Both golf fans and players never pass up an opportunity for some lighthearted banter among the pros. This week, following the DP World India Championship, one exchange had everyone in stitches. It was a playful message from Michael Kim about his ongoing friendly rivalry with Viktor Hovland and the near-miss heartbreaks they’ve shared on the course.

Kim, who is known to share his honest opinions on his X account, also uses the platform to share updates and precious moments with fans. After competing at the DP World India Championship alongside Hovland and other Ryder Cup stars like Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Tommy Fleetwood, and Luke Donald, the 2025 Open de France winner shared a lighthearted jab at Hovland that resonates back to the route to the Tour Championship. Reposting a video of Fleetwood making an eagle on the 18th hole of the last round at the event, Kim wrote, “Viktor HATES being tied with me. Always has to do one better 😂”

Kim finished at 16 under par 272 to finish tied 9 with New Zealand’s Daniel Hiller, missing the opportunity to earn $120K that Hovland received for T6 position. If Hovland had hit a birdie, he would have finished tied with Kim. However, he managed an eagle on the last hole, surpassing Kim by one stroke. The last hole at the Delhi Golf Club is a par 5, 534-yard hole. Hovland hit a solid 262-yard tee shot to land on the fairway, with 266 yards remaining to the pin. His second shot was 285 yards long, as the ball landed 25 yards away from the pin. But he managed to hit a putt from 25 yards to register an eagle and finish with 17 under par. This is not the first time Viktor Hovland outdid Kim in the very end. Something similar had happened back at the 2025 BMW Championship.

During the championship, it was a tense scene between Scottie Scheffler and Robert MacIntyre for the title. However, MacIntyre’s poor performance in the last round, ensured that Scheffler would win the BMW Championship. But the tournament offered more than just a title win. The top 30 players in the FedExCup standings at the conclusion of the event would also secure a spot in the Tour Championship.

Like at the Delhi Golf Club, Hovland and Kim were neck-to-neck and eyeing a spot in the top 30. This time, it was a birdie by Hovland that helped him edge past Kim. Michael Kim finished the last hole in Round 4 at par, while Viktor Hovland did it with a birdie. In the end, the 7x PGA Tour winner finished 7 under par overall to tie at 7 with Rickie Fowler and Ludvig Aberg, leaving Kim with a solo 10th finish. Because of this, Kim ended the season 31st on the FedEx standings and didn’t make it to the 2025 Tour Championship.

Much like his recent one, Kim had a lighthearted jab for Viktor Hovland back then, too. Before the standings were final, Kim shared an X post reading, “Fought hard but likely not enough… fingers crossed…” Once the rankings came out, he replied to his previous X post with, “Viktor and I used to be friends….” The post had fans laughing and praising his humor while also showing support for his game.

He even shared his disappointment with the results in an X post. He wrote, “Man it’s difficult to describe the feeling of finishing 31. It’s not as painful as some of the moments I’ve had in my career when I’ve lost my card [2020-21 season] but it’s this dull disappointing knot in my heart.”

Kim doesn’t just use X to talk about his games. He has also been vocal about many other things, including PGA Tour policy changes, which makes him an ideal candidate for the Player Advisory Council (PAC). However, he has no plans to join it.

Michael Kim explains why he won’t join the PGA Tour PAC

Kim doesn’t shy away from sharing his honest opinions, a trait that many consider a good fit for a role on the PGA Tour Player Advisory Council (PAC). Recently, he was asked if he plans to join the PGA Tour Player Advisory Council. To this, the PGA Tour pro replied, “I don’t think so. I think the guys on the board, like they spend a lot of hours, I mean, meetings and Zoom meetings, it becomes another job, and the golf and Tour keep me plenty busy enough.”

The PGA Tour’s PAC comprises many popular faces, including Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas, Max Homa, and more. However, Kim does not want to join the board anytime soon, as he plans to focus on golf for now.

Michael Kim’s candid response shows that while he’s fully committed to competing at the highest level, he prefers to focus on his game rather than take on extra responsibilities off the course. Regardless, fans can continue to enjoy his talent, humor, and relatable personality on X.