A routine recovery shot turned into one of the strangest moments of A Lim Kim’s second round at the ongoing $3 million Lotte Championship 2026. Kim navigated Hawaii’s challenging conditions, but her second round took a bizarre turn when something bit her toe in the water. But rather than let the bizarre incident derail her day, Kim decided to keep going.
Watch What’s Trending Now!
She recounted the incident during an interview after her round.
“Inside the water, something bit me. So pain! But I don’t have a choice, so kept going,” A Lim Kim said about the incident. “My toe, my big toe. [It was] really scary. But you know, I don’t have a choice.”
She said that it was still hurting a little after the round. However, the South Korean professional was relieved that there was no blood.
After starting on the back nine, she had carded two birdies from holes 10 through 18. Heading into the front nine, she scored a birdie on the first hole. On the par-5 fifth hole of Round 2, Kim’s tee shot landed near water. Removing her shoes to play the recovery shot, she felt a bite.
Although she didn’t let the pain affect her shot, she couldn’t finish the hole on par. She finished it with a bogey. However, she then carded another birdie on the eighth to finish her second round at three-under 69.
A Lim Kim opened the Lotte Championship with a round of seven-under 65 to lead the tournament. It was a bogeyless round despite the challenging rainy conditions. It featured seven birdies on holes 1, 4, 8, 13, 15, 16, and 17.
“Trajectory for control and then putting really important on this course because it is very windy,” the 30-year-old said after her opening round. “And then today rain is back and forth, back and forth, so tough conditions. But it was really good play.”
Overall, she finished 10-under at 134 after 36 holes. She is tied for fifth with Michelle Zhang, while Polly Mack and Jeeno Thitikul co-lead.
A Lim Kim has three LPGA victories on her resume right now, including a major. She won the 2020 US Women’s Open as a non-member. Then, she won the 2024 Lotte Championship and the 2025 Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. Her 2026 season shows a mix of good and bad performances, but if she continues the momentum from the first two rounds, she could contend for the Hawaii event again.
Despite five missed cuts in 18 starts, Kim has posted six top-10 finishes and earned over $1 million. Her best finish so far came at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open, where she finished a solo second with rounds of 67-72-74-68 for a score of seven-under 281. But beyond her performance at the Scottish Open, something else about her became the talk of the town.
A Lim Kim’s earmuffs steal the spotlight at the Scottish Open
Jenny Shin beat Kim to win the 2026 Scottish Open. Back at that event, too, she fought challenging conditions. During her opening round, she carded seven birdies and two bogeys for a five-under 67. The round tested the field as conditions shifted between morning and afternoon. Her 67 moved her into solo third place.
The second round had similar conditions. After the second round, she said the morning was no easier than the opening round. However, the afternoon was much better. She had carded an on-par round this time. But her bunny earmuffs caught everyone’s attention.
“My earmuffs, when I [wear] them, my ears [are] warm and I just keep it. My confidence is high,” A Lim Kim said.
Her off-white bunny earmuffs would have certainly helped her stay warm amid the windy conditions at Dundonald Links.
Many other golfers are known for wearing such funny and cute accessories. Sam Snead wore straw hats, while Jesper Parnevik wore a baseball cap.
A Lim Kim’s bunny earmuffs may have grabbed attention at the Scottish Open, but her latest adventure at the Lotte Championship offered fans a very different glimpse of her personality. From quirky accessories to playing through an unexpected toe bite, the South Korean star keeps delivering memorable moments on and off the course.