Report: Tom Kim splits with golf coach ahead of The Open at Royal Portrush

Multiple PGA Tour winner Tom Kim has confirmed he has split with his swing coach ahead of the The Open. 

As a young pro Kim was widely tipped for superstardom and even courted the interest of LIV Golf. 

But he joined the Tour in 2022 and rose up the world rankings with three victories before his 23rd birthday.

The young South Korean has struggled significantly in recent months and comes into The Open somewhat lost. 

He mutually agreed to part ways with his caddie Paul Tesori before the John Deere Classic. 

And he confirmed to the PGA Tour's official website before the final men's major of the year he's also now working without a full-time swing coach. 

He had previously been instructed by the likes of Chris Como, Cameron McCormick and Sam Cyr. 

Como is Xander Schauffele's coach and McCormick instructs Jordan Spieth. 

"I was top 20 in the world for three years," Kim said 

"I had times where I would go a little away from it, but two months later, I'd be right back there, and it's the first time where I just haven't really had much success after a struggle."

Kim said he was okay with the idea of relying solely on himself to get himself out of his latest funk. 

"I think it's something that I needed," he added. 

"I think over time, being 20 years old and getting everything early, I think it's a good kick in the butt to keep your mind going,” Kim said. "Hopefully, I still got a few more years ahead of me."

Kim is making his fourth Open appearance at Royal Portrush. 

He shared second place at Royal Liverpool in 2023 and tied for 47th at the landmark 105th Open at St Andrews the year prior. 

Kim missed the cut at Royal Troon 12 months ago. This year, he shared 52nd place at The Masters, placed 71st at the PGA Championship and tied for 33rd at the U.S. Open. 

Joel Dahmen in stunning split

Kim isn't the only golfer to have made a big decision to part ways with a trusted looper. 

PGA Tour winner and fan-favourite Joel Dahmen has confirmed that he's split with Geno Bonnalie. 

Bonnalie had carried the sticks for Dahmen for more than 10 years and the duo shared a brotherly bond. 

They gained plenty of fans when the Netflix documentary Full Swing was released that featured Dahmen's struggles with overcoming the loss of his mother through cancer and his own battle with the disease.  

Bonnalie penned a letter to Dahmen telling the golfer he was prepared to give up his job to caddie for him full-time because he believed in him that much. 

Dahmen has not confirmed who he will be working with going forward. The American is not in the field for The Open. 

Dahmen has missed seven cuts from his last eight starts on the PGA Tour, though, and clearly felt it was necesarry to have a change. 

"It was time," Dahmen told Skratch. "We had a blast."