Kevin Na on Bio Kim suspension: "Three years is ridiculous"

PGA Tour star Kevin Na reveals the conversation he had with Bio Kim this week.

Andy Roberts's picture
Thu, 3 Oct 2019
Kevin Na on Bio Kim suspension: "Three years is ridiculous"

Kevin Na believes a three-year suspension on the Korean Tour for his good friend Bio Kim is too harsh a penalty after the South Korean was spotted flashing his middle finger at the crowd before slamming his driver into the turf on Sunday. 

Despite his actions to a mobile phone going off in his backswing on the 16th tee during the final round, Kim, 29, still went on to win the DGB Financial Group Volvik Daegu Gyeongbuk Open for his second title of the season, pulling him clear at the top of the Korean Tour money list. 

But on Tuesday, it was decided by the KPGA that former PGA Tour player Kim would be suspended from the Korean Tour for three years, on top of being fined 10 million won ($8,350).

Na spoke about the incident with the media ahead of this week's Shriners Hospitals for Children Open on the PGA Tour, explaining how he has tried to be something of a "big brother" to Kim ever since he first played on the PGA Tour in 2011. 

RELATED: KIM SUSPENDED FOR THREE YEARS ON KOREAN TOUR

 

 

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

"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."

Na also spoke of how Kim and his wife are expecting their first child together.

"He's depressed," said Na. "I mean, I can hear it in his voice. I said, you know what? I know you're going through a rough time, but be good to your wife. I am sure it's hard for her."

As a result of the decision by the KPGA, three-time PGA Tour winner Na has put Kim in touch with the PGA Tour in hopes of finding him some playing opportunities or status on one of the Tour's developmental circuits. 

Kim currently leads the money and player of the year points race, but now that he has been suspended he will not be allowed to finish the remainder of the season. 

"Kim Bio damaged the dignity of a golfer with etiquette violation and inappropriate behavior," the KPGA said in a statement. 

The six-time professional winner played on the PGA Tour in 2011 after earning his place via Q-School. 

He also had two full seasons on the second-tier Web.com Tour, which is now the Korn Ferry Tour.