Shooting for freedom.

This week in golf wasn’t just about trophies — it was about freedom.

Adrian Meronk won the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews. Huge win for the man from Poland — securing his DP World Tour playing rights after his defection to the now seemingly doomed LIV tour. Over on the PGA Tour in Utah, Austin Smotherman claimed his maiden win in his 100th career start, finishing 26 under par in a low-scoring birdie fest where a score of -5 after two rounds missed the cut.

But for me, the real talking point is Tom Kim.

Gold at the Asian Games meant far more than winning a medal. In South Korea, military service is compulsory. Only the color gold at the Asian Games secures an exemption. Anything less would have meant him stepping away from golf in his prime. Just look at Sangmoon Bae — service killed his momentum.

The pressure on Tom Kim was unimaginable. He wasn’t playing for a paycheck. He was playing for his freedom to stay playing on the tour without having to take a legally enforced sabbatical.

Before the final round, Tiger Woods reportedly sent him seven words: “Just be you, no more, no less.”

Cold-blooded wisdom. Tom went out and got it done. That’s mental toughness. That’s a competitor. That’s a golfer who stared down the biggest stakes and didn’t blink.

Congrats to Meronk. Congrats to Smotherman. But this week belonged to Tom Kim.

Enjoy the walk!