16-Year-Old Kris Kim Holes Out On Final Hole At CJ Cup To Shoot 68 In PGA Tour Debut

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Kris Kim, the 16-year-old son of former LPGA golfer Ji-Hyun Suh, made his PGA Tour debut on Thursday at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch. 

Kim received a sponsor's exemption to play in the tournament, and he certainly held his own. Seen as one of the biggest young up-and-comers in golf – along with 15-year-old Miles Russell – Kim posted an impressive debut on the professional tour. 

If Kim was nervous early, he didn't show it. The 16-year-old made birdie on his second hole of the day. He made three birdies on his front nine (he started on hole 10), including a chip-in on the par-4 16th hole, and shot 1-under over his first nine holes. 

Kim mostly treaded water on his back nine, making two birdies and two bogeys over holes one through eight. But on his final hole of the day, the par-5 ninth, Kim posted his best highlight. The teenager holed out from off the green for the second time in the round, but this one was for eagle. 

That gave Kim a final first round score of a 3-under 68. For context, tournament favorite and PGA Tour star Jordan Spieth also shot a 68. 

Matt Wallace shot the best round of the day among those who started in the morning, posting an 8-under round of 63. Obviously, that puts Kim five shots back of the lead. 

Winning the tournament would be something truly special, but the next hurdle for Kim is to get across the cutline and play the weekend. Although, as an amateur, he cannot win any prize money. 

Kris Kim, a 16-year-old amateur golfer, made his PGA Tour debut at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on Thursday and posted an impressive round of 68.

Kris Kim, a 16-year-old amateur golfer, made his PGA Tour debut at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson on Thursday and posted an impressive round of 68.

(Tim Heitman/Getty Images)

According to Data Golf, the projected cutline as of Thursday evening is expected to land somewhere around five-or-six-under-par. That means Kim needs to post another sub-par round on Friday to make it. 

If he proved anything on Thursday though, it's that he's not scared of the moment. Kim is scheduled to tee off at 2:12 Central Time on Friday afternoon, the very last tee time of the day. 

That means he's going to know EXACTLY what he needs to do to make the cut. Can he do it? We'll find out in just over 24 hours… 

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Dan began his sports media career at ESPN, where he survived for nearly a decade. Once the Stockholm Syndrome cleared, he made his way to Outkick. He is secure enough in his masculinity to admit he is a cat-enthusiast with three cats, one of which is named “Brady” because his wife wishes she were married to Tom instead of him.