Lion Kim turns pro.

Submitted by Section 1 on

One of the best amateur/collegiate careers in Michigan history comes to an end.  This is not exactly breaking news, and so my apologies if it has been posted already.

http://www.mgoblue.com/allaccess/?media=235147

Thanks, Lion, for being one of the biggest factors in returning Michigan golf to Big Ten prominence.

Lion will now miss the U.S. Amateur at Erin Hills (a shame, because I'd expect him to do really well there) and the Walker Cup (which, if he had been selected for the team would have been an extraordinary personal honor).

I'm most curious about Lion's (foregone) Walker Cup chances.  Anybody know the likely makeup of the U.S. team?

Section 1

July 20th, 2011 at 3:29 PM ^

"College eligibility" has nothing to do with golf's Rules on Amateur Status.  Lion Kim had the opportunity to play in some very big, non-collegiate events.  He's rightly aiming himself at tour golf now, but if I am not mistaken, he could remain an am until October and then still declare himself an entrant in things like Q-school or Nationwide qualifying.

Now, back to football practice for you.

James Burrill Angell

July 20th, 2011 at 3:56 PM ^

Why stay amateur? Why wouldn't he want to start playing pro. He could theoretically get a sponsors exemption to play an event or two or even hit the lower ranking tours and start making money. Whats the benefit to staying amateur.

He obviously was amateur before so he could continue to play in college. Now that he can't play college any more, is it really worth it for him to keep his amateur status to play one or two more amateur events versus starting to make money, even if its on the lower tours?

Section 1

July 20th, 2011 at 4:23 PM ^

He wouldn't want to remain an amateur.  At least not past this fall.  The only question is the question I raised, which was if it would be worthwhile to remain an Am to play in the USAm at Erin Hills and, possibly, the Walker Cup.  All that does, is take you through the end of this summer and into September.

And consequently, that is why I asked about the Walker Cup team selection.

We are just now getting into local qualifying for the US Am; I didn't ask if Lion's USAPL win from last year immunized him through to sectional qualifying or beyond.  I think it might, if it hasn't run out.

Anyway, I am by no means suggesting that it was a wrong decision.  Just that it might not be a no-brainer, given the upcoming Am schedule for the next 10 weeks or so.  It's a fairly involved, and personal, set of choices to be made.  (Sponsor exemptions on the Nationwide Tour versus chances in the Am and chances to make the Walker Cup team.  Ty Webb draws the distinctions very nicely just below.)  My guess is that if Lion had been a lock to make the Walker Cup team, that he would have waited until October to turn pro.

skunk bear

July 20th, 2011 at 4:59 PM ^

Sometimes folk just can't wait to get their hands on some cash.

Regardless of whether Lion has a good pro career or not, he may regret not waiting to play in the Walker Cup.

Section 1

July 20th, 2011 at 7:04 PM ^

And again, for the third time, I am not judging the decision; just asking the questions.

If it were me, I would definitely delay turning pro until after the Walker Cup and an all-expenses paid trip to Scotland and the experience of a lifetime.  But that is only if he gets named to the team. 

And so, the original question... How is the Walker Cup team shaping up?  It is filling up fast with some obvious/powerful names; Peter Uihlein, Patrick Cantlay, Patrick Rodgers, Jordan Spieth, Corbin Mills, Luke Guthrie.  And many more; all guys rated ahead of Lion.

My guess, and it is only a guess, is that Lion had to decide now about pursuing the 2011 USAm qualifying, decided against it because he was not rounding into form for the Walker Cup, and decided to go pro.

He's had a good, special relationship with Titleist going back to Junior years and will likely get a deal with them.  He may have some non-golf sponsors lined up too.  Heck, Alro Steel (Alro= Al Glick=Al Glick Fieldhouse) has sponsored a few players, going back to Jackson's Mike Hill.  I have no idea.  I'm just asking the questions.

Ty Webb

July 21st, 2011 at 6:33 PM ^

Just to clarify, I think Lion believes he has a legitimate shot at getting some PGA tour exemptions before the end of the year (especially in the wake of Cantlay's recent success at the Travelers).

M-Wolverine

July 20th, 2011 at 4:56 PM ^

He's not leaving early, and he's going because his room and board is no longer paid for, and he kinda needs to make some money to live. You can split hairs that he can still compete for no pay for 3 more months, but the fact is he's turning pro because he can no longer be a college player, which makes your condescension when immediately followed up by a back track seem stupid.

Tater

July 20th, 2011 at 6:06 PM ^

I'm in the "agree" corner on this one.  Isn't it funny how quick some people are to tell others they shouldn't try to make a living?  

There is no benefit for Kim in staying amateur now, especially if he can get sponsor's exemptions.  As most amateur scores in major tournaments indicate, there is a big step up from amateur golf to pro golf.  If his goal is pro golf, he really needs to begin his learning curve now.  He has already learned all he will learn as an amateur.  It's time to step up and play with the big boys.

Section 1

July 20th, 2011 at 7:02 PM ^

What an annoyance you are.  Go back; read this entire thread.  Try to find where I was telling Lion Kim that he "shouldn't try to make a living."  Point it our for us.  Quote me.

What a laughable instance this is, of people reactively disagreeing with me just for the sake of disagreement.

In reply to by Section 1

WolvinLA2

July 20th, 2011 at 7:54 PM ^

You didn't explicitly tell Lion Kim not to make a living, but you said that  you felt he should stay amateur through the Walker Cup and that you think he'll regret his decision in the future.  Sure, that's not telling him to do something in the sense that you dialed his number and said hi Lion don't go pro, kthxbai, but you made it clear what you think he should do and that you think what he's doing isn't the best for him. 

You're arguing semantics, you knew what you meant.  Don't get pissed because someone called you out.

Section 1

July 20th, 2011 at 9:53 PM ^

You didn't explicitly tell Lion Kim not to make a living, but you said that  you felt he should stay amateur through the Walker Cup and that you think he'll regret his decision in the future. 

What is wrong with you?  I am beginning to think that some of you guys don't know what the Walker Cup is, and how the team is selected.

I didn't declare that Lion Kim should remain an am through the Walker Cup because I don't know if he'll even make the team.  Do you understand that?  It is a team competition.  The teams are selected on an invitation-only basis.  Nobody knows if Lion would make the team.  My guess is that Lion thinks right now that he would not make the team.  My further guess is that if Lion went to the Am at Erin Hills, and made it through the medal qualifier and through match play to the third round or so, his resume and maturity and match play moxie would earn him a spot on my team if I were Jim Holtgrieve.  (Now you know who Jim Holtgrieve is.  You're welcome.)  But I just don't know, and nobody knows better than Lion.

And, just because I'm that kind of guy, I'd like to also remind you that I did not say that Lion would "regret" anything.  I didn't use the word "regret."  Someone else used the word "regret."

So I am sorry but I do get pissed when whiny little nuisances like you try to "call me out."

And just because I'm that kind of guy, and I want to make this as painful for you as possible, here's the story of Tom Lewis, the 20 year-old English amateur who will be on the G.B. & I team, who just took the low amateur medal in the Open Championship, who has never has had a university scholarhship... and who is waiting until after the Walker Cup to turn pro.  I strongly suspect that in Lewis' case, he very much thinks that the Walker Cup will give him valuable experience and even exposure as a future professional property.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/golf/article-2015814/BRITISH-OPEN-2011-Tom-Lewis-wont-turn-professional-autumn.html 

So now, because you've been so relentlessly stupid, let me sum it all up for you again.  I don't presume anything about what Lion should do.  I only wondered about his decision to turn pro, in light of the approach, in late August and then in late September, of the two biggest events in all of amateur golf.  Doing well in the first (the Am at Erin Hills) might propel him into the second (the Walker Cup at Royal Aberdeen).  But that is not my prediction for Lion.  It isn't my request.  It isn't what I expect him to do.  I didn't say anything about what he might "regret."  Or what I want him to do.  I did say, at least a couple of times, "I just don't know."

Have I now disposed of every disorganized and disjointed thing you had to say about me?  I think so; but I just wanted to check.

Ty Webb

July 20th, 2011 at 4:01 PM ^

It sounds like he wants to capitalize on the U.S. Pub Links win, Masters' appearance and T-3 at Karsteen Creek to try to get some sponsor's exemptions yet this year.

MGoShoe

July 20th, 2011 at 8:31 PM ^

...got into some sort of trouble like someone Ty once knew.

Ty Webb: Let me tell you a little story? I once knew a guy who could have been a great golfer, could have gone pro, all he needed was a little time and practice. Decided to go to college instead. Went for four years, did pretty well. At the end of his four years, his last semester he was kicked out... You know what for? He was night putting, just putting at night with the fifteen-year-old daughter of the Dean... You know who that guy was Danny?

Danny Noonan: No.

Ty Webb: Take one good guess.

Danny Noonan: Bob Hope?

Ty Webb: Ha ha... No, that guy was Mitch Comstein, my roommate. He was a good guy.

Any insights to share, Ty?