Korean PGA Tour player Bio Kim will need to find a new place to play for the next three years after the leading money winner on the circuit was handed a harsh three-year suspension for flipping off a fan whose phone shutter went off during his swing at this past week’s DGB Financial Group Volvik Daegu Gyeongbuk Open.
Playing the 16th hole of the final round and leading by one, Kim was distracted during his swing by the rogue phone and showed his displeasure by showing his middle finger to the offending fan before slamming his club into the tee box.
Kim would go on to win the event, his second win of the season, but an emergency meeting of the Tour brass unanimously voted to suspend Kim for three years for the obscene gesture.
“Kim Bi-o damaged the dignity of a golfer with etiquette violation and inappropriate behavior,” the KPGA said in a statement. The KPGA also fined Kim the U.S. equivalent of $8,350.
On Tuesday, Kim held a press conference apologizing for his actions and asking for forgiveness.
Bio Kim got on his knees pleading for mercy and forgiveness for flipping the bird at a jerk. Sergio destroyed greens in Saudi Arabia after taking a murderous regime’s money and then started posting happy pics to his Gram feed. pic.twitter.com/C0tkcrCzSZ
— Ryan Ballengee (@RyanBallengee) October 1, 2019
Kim’s victory took him to 302nd in the Official World Golf Rankings. While the KPGA Tour is off the table for the next three years, there is any number of options for the 29-year-old who played Stateside on the PGA and Korn Ferry Tours where he held status as recently as 2018.
The Asian Tour or Japan Tour are also possible landing spots for Kim.
