Bio Kim suspension reduced from three years down to one

Bio Kim's lengthy three-year suspension by the Korean Professional Golfers' Association has been reduced to one year following a meeting between the Tour's board of directors. 

Kim, 29, was given his suspension last month after sticking his middle finger up at the crowd after a camera went off during his downswing on the 16th tee in the final round. He was also seen thumping his club into the turf. 

He went on to win the tournament but was later fined $8,350 for his actions, on top of a lengthy suspension from the Tour by the KPGA, who claimed he had "damaged the dignity of a golfer with an etiquette violation and inappropriate behaviour."

When receiving his suspension, Kim apologised to the media and then knelt to the floor with his head bowed.

Three-time PGA Tour winner Kevin Na, a close friend of Kim, stood up for him during his recent victory at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open when suggesting the three-year ban was too harsh a penalty. Na's caddie even wore a "Free Bio Kim" hat during the week. 

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"First of all, I don't know where to start," said Na at the time of the incident. 

"Yes, what he did was wrong. Should he be fined? Yes. Three years is ridiculous.

"You're taking a man's job for three years. Yes, he was unprofessional and there should be consequences for it, but don't take a man's job away for three years.

"Everybody makes mistakes. If this was a fifth or sixth offence, I get it. But when you have no offences and have had good behaviour, you're a good guy, people like him - you can't do that to a person."