Michael Kim admits a change he must make after popular golf course shares important data

Michael Kim made a very interesting comment recently about the statistics given by Erin Hills Golf Course. On May 31, Rick M, a social media influencer, tweeted out information on the players' tee boxes based on their driving distance using a 7-iron. There were seven categories, each named after a different color and divided by driving distance.

Rick M's caption in this X post effectively explains why distributing tee boxes according to 7-Iron is preferable. On his X (formerly Twitter), he explained:

"So Erin Hills recommends what tee box you play based on your 7-Iron distance. Would you choose your tee box based on their recommendation? Gold: 5081 yards Gold/White: 5656 White: 6238 Green/White: 6543 Green: 6801 Blue: 7316"

His caption continued,

"Why 7 iron instead of driver? Because men lie about their driver distance way more. (Or just overestimate.) I hit my 7 iron 165, but I hit my driver shorter relatively. So I would personally play shorter than their recommendation. I thinks it’s a great idea and they have had great success so far getting people to play shorter tees. This gets pace of play faster and people have more fun!"

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Under this post, Michael Kim claimed that he thinks he should go one up on the table. His comment read,

"lol I guess I should play one box up. Nice!"

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While there have been no reports on Michael Kim's distance average with 7-Iron, there is one assumption for it. The PGA Tour golfers' average distance with this club is roughly 176 yards (according to Golf Monthly). Kim, on the other hand, is known for power-striking shots with 4-Iron, so it is expected that his driving distance will be less than average.

How has Michael Kim's 2025 season gone thus far?

Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch - Source: Imagn

As of this writing, Michael Kim is currently competing in the 2025 Memorial Tournament. He finished the opening 36 holes five shots over par, tying for the 50th position. As a result, he just barely made it to the weekend. While he is not in contention for the tournament's lead, he has a solid opportunity of doing something significant.

Talking about Michael Kim's full season so far, here's a breakdown of it:

Sony Open in Hawaii – 138 (-2), Missed Cut
The American Express – 276 (-12), T43
Farmers Insurance Open – 154 (+10), Missed Cut
WM Phoenix Open – 267 (-17), T2
The Genesis Invitational – 284 (-4), T13
Mexico Open at VidantaWorld – 271 (-13), T13
Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches – 269 (-15), T6
Arnold Palmer Invitational – 280 (-8), 4th
THE PLAYERS Championship – 144 (E), Missed Cut
Valspar Championship – 282 (-2), T28
Texas Children’s Houston Open – 272 (-8), T32
Masters Tournament – 287 (-1), T27
RBC Heritage – 281 (-3), T54
Truist Championship – 194 (+7), Withdrawn
PGA Championship – 289 (+5), T55
Charles Schwab Challenge – 275 (-5), T16

About the author

Anurag Bhardwaj is a Golf Journalist at Sportskeeda. With over three years of experience writing about various sports, Anurag has drawn inspiration from numerous icons, ranging from WWE’s Roman Reigns to NFL superstar Patrick Mahomes. His passion for storytelling spans across different sports, all while pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Dental Surgery, and he hopes to continue blending both his professions.

A single spark ignited his love for golf, and now he follows the sport with unwavering enthusiasm. Whether it’s the Masters or the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Anurag is always ready for a deep dive into the action. Through his writing, he brings the latest happenings from the golf world straight to the fans' screens. And while he dreams of stepping onto a golf course someday, he remains in awe of Scottie Scheffler’s precision, all while striving to become a great doctor.

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Edited by Mitali