Si Woooooo
Si Woo Kim explaining his caffeine addiction is one of the funniest (and most relatable) things we've ever heard
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As we once discovered right here at Golf Digest, too much caffeine, or not enough, can have serious impacts on your golf game. Anybody who has had that extra cup before the round knows all too well what the literal first-tee jitters are like.
To caffeinate or not to caffeinate is an even bigger conundrum for guys on the PGA Tour looking to optimize performance. For some, like Phil Mickelson, coffee is a must. For others, like Ben Griffin, he doesn't touch the stuff and, while he doesn't have Lefty's resume, he's doing just fine.
As for Presidents Cup folk hero Si Woo Kim, it's a delicate balance. And by delicate balance we mean the man is so addicted to caffeine that when he doesn't have it it affects his headspace, literally (been there). During a recent guest appearance on the Subpar podcast with Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz, Knost brought up a rumor he heard that Kim once shot a 31 on the back nine at the Players Championship after consuming a Red Bull and an Advil PM (wait, what?). That led to Kim hilariously explaining his caffeine addiction in his semi-broken English.
"Sometimes I go like, too much caffeine," he said. "Like, addicted. So when I don't don't have caffeine, enough, I'm always headache."
Those who have given up caffeine cold turkey says it only takes a few days to get over the headaches without it. Why go through all that when you can counterbalance it with the Advil PM?
"I always bring it with the Advil PM, it takes like, feel lazy, you know?" Kim said. "And sleepy. I have to wake up. So I bring my Red Bull and drink that and it wakes me up."
So, for those keeping track, coffee to get going in the morning, Advil PM when the coffee wears off and he gets a headache, then a Red Bull to wake back up. Savage behavior. The type of behavior you see from the seasoned veteran at his 10th career bachelor party. Only difference here is this is how Kim is operating at his highly stressful place of work: the golf course.
The most impressive part is the ability to sleep good right away despite all that caffeine in your system. That is a legitimate superpower.