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Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior Author
HOYLAKE, England — After posting a 3-under 68 within the second spherical of The Open Championship on Friday, Tom Kim had one huge concern: discovering a wheelchair to assist him get to the clubhouse at Royal Liverpool Golf Membership.
Kim, the world’s twenty fourth participant, mentioned he almost pulled out of the Open after badly spraining his proper ankle in a freak accident at his rental house on Thursday night time. The South Korean mentioned he left the terrace and slipped on a moist garden.
“It is a very unlucky factor,” Kim mentioned. “It is fairly bruised. I am unable to actually take my shoe off. I do not understand how I actually walked. However as soon as the adrenaline kicked in, I received by it. Now I am surviving.”
Kim, 21, mentioned he heard his ankle burst and was recognized with a stage 1 tear. He mentioned his ankle was swollen and bruised, which made it troublesome for him to placed on and take off his spikes.
“I used to be about to cancel and never play right this moment – simply go house and attempt to see a health care provider as a result of it is fairly bruised,” Kim mentioned. “I received some powerful love from my workforce, and I used to be advised to suck it.”
Kim mentioned his coach assured him he would not do any extra harm by enjoying on the sprained ankle. His coach taped his ankle and advised him the ache would subside after he warmed up and the adrenaline took over.
“I positively went there with low expectations, I do not know how you can hit the golf ball,” Kim mentioned. “It was positively a whole lot of half swings. As soon as I began to heat up and get extra snug with it, I used to be in a position to play with it.”
Kim, who’s tied after 36 holes, mentioned her restoration will embody dipping her foot in an ice tub and receiving additional care.
Kim mentioned he expects to be again on the course Saturday.
“I have been recording quite a bit the place it is not going to worsen,” Kim mentioned. “It is simply uncomfortable. I am not going to surrender. It is simply not who I’m.”
