Michael Kim STUCK in Japan Before $4M DP World India Championship! 😱 Visa Chaos Shocks Golf Fans & DP World Tour
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🚨 Golf’s latest travel nightmare!
Just days before teeing off at the $4 million DP World India Championship, PGA Tour winner Michael Kim has been stranded in Japan due to unexpected visa issues. 😱
While global stars like Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, and Tommy Fleetwood prepare to light up Delhi Golf Club, Kim’s absence has left fans stunned — especially since this was supposed to be his debut on the Back 9 swing of the Race to Dubai. 🇮🇳⛳
📢 Kim broke the news himself on X (Twitter), writing:
“I committed to play the DP World India champ, but I’ve had some visa issues and am still in Japan… No practice at all, have to go in blind.”
Despite the chaos, the 31-year-old remains hopeful. If his paperwork clears, he’ll make it just in time for Thursday’s opening round — but without a single practice session on one of the richest DP World Tour events in history.
🏌️♂️ The backstory:
• Michael Kim recently won his first DP World Tour title at the 2025 FedEx Open de France, marking his second career victory after the 2018 John Deere Classic.
• Last week, he played in the Baycurrent Classic in Yokohama, finishing -3 and tied for 56th while Xander Schauffele stole headlines with a dominant win.
• Now, travel trouble threatens to derail his momentum heading into one of the Tour’s biggest weeks of the season.
🌍 This isn’t the first visa disaster in golf:
From Ángel Cabrera being denied entry to Augusta in 2024 to Thriston Lawrence and Brittany Henderson missing events due to visa delays — even elite players aren’t immune to the bureaucracy that complicates global competition.
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🏆 What’s at Stake at the DP World India Championship:
This is no ordinary week. As one of the final events before the Race to Dubai Playoffs, the stakes couldn’t be higher:
• The Top 110 in the season standings after the Genesis Championship (South Korea) keep full Tour status for 2026.
• The Top 70 advance to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship (Nov 6–9) and the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai (Nov 13–16).
Every shot matters — especially for players fighting to secure their place for next season.
💬 What fans are saying:
Golf fans have rallied behind Kim, calling his situation “unfair” and “a reminder of how tough global golf can be.” Others are praising his resilience — choosing to travel across continents with optimism and humor despite the setback.
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📺 Where to Watch:
Catch live coverage on Sky Sports Golf:
• Thursday: 6:30 AM
• Friday: 7:30 AM
• Saturday: 7:30 AM on Sky Sports Main Event → 8:00 AM on Sky Sports Golf
Marquee groups:
• Rory McIlroy, Viktor Hovland, and Ben Griffin tee off at 7:25 AM (local).
• Michael Kim (pending arrival) will join Dylan Naidoo and Manu Gandas at 7:45 AM (local) if his visa clears.
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🔥 Why this story matters:
Michael Kim’s saga highlights the challenges of modern golf — long flights, tight schedules, and bureaucratic barriers. Yet, it also shows the passion and perseverance that define players on today’s global stage. 🌏
🎤 Comment Below:
Should the DP World Tour help players handle travel and visa complications? Or is this just part of the grind of being a global golfer? Let us know your take! 👇
#MichaelKim #DPWorldTour #DPWorldIndiaChampionship #GolfNews #GolfDrama #RoryMcIlroy #ViktorHovland #TommyFleetwood #RaceToDubai #GolfLife #GolfHighlights #GolfTalk #GolfFans #GolfUpdates #GolfTour #ProGolf
The one-time PGA Tour winner was set to tee it up at the inaugural $4 million DP World India Championship this week. Instead, Michael Kim finds himself stuck in Japan, battling unexpected visa issues just days before the event. While superstars like Rory Mroy, Victor Havland, and Tommy Fleewood are lighting up the Delhi Golf Club, Kim’s absence is a notable one. The brand new tournament, the richest DP World Tour event ever held in India, was meant to feature Kim as part of its international debut lineup on the back n swing of the race to Dubai. But travel complications have temporarily derailed his plans. Earlier today, Kim took to X, formerly Twitter, to share his frustrating update with fans. I committed to play the DP World India champ, but I’ve had some visa issues and I’m still in Japan. Luckily, I think it’s going to work out and headed to India now. No practice at all. Have to go in blind. Let’s see how it turns out. Haha. We’ll keep updating. The 31-year-old was in Japan last week for the 2025 Bayurren Classic at Yokohama Country Club where Xander Chofell dominated the headlines with a record-breaking win. Kim quietly finished tied for 56th with a respectable final round three under par 68. A performance that showed flashes of solid form despite heavy travel and a packed global schedule that Kim’s recent travel marathon comes right after a career milestone. His first ever DP World Tour victory at the 2025 FedEx Open to France. That emotional triumph marked his second professional win coming seven years after his 2018 John Deere Classic breakthrough on the PGA tour. Now Kim is scrambling to make it to Delhi in time for his debut at one of the most anticipated tournaments on the DP World Tour calendar. The good news, alarm clock time is still on his side. With official practice rounds set for Wednesday, October 15th, and the tournament teeing off on Thursday, October 16th, he could still make it just in time, even if it means taking the first swing without a single practice hole. For a seasoned traveler like him, this isn’t new territory, just another curveball in a demanding global career. Visa problems have sidelined plenty of golfers before, even some big names. In 2024, former Mast’s champion Unhel Cabrera was denied a US visa, preventing his return to Augusta despite a lifetime exemption. South Africa’s Thristan Lawrence had to withdraw from the Canadian Open earlier this year due to similar delays. Even on the LPGA tour, Brittney Henderson, Caddy, and sister of Brook Henderson missed the Meyer LPGA Classic after her visa expired. Clearly, administrative hurdles remain one of the sport’s most frustrating off-c course battles. This week’s DP World India Championship isn’t just a debut. It’s a crucial stop on the DP World Tour calendar. As the penultimate event in the back n stretch of the race to Dubai, it’s one of the final chances for players to secure full playing rights for 2026 or make a lastminute push into the playoffs that here’s what’s on the line. Only the top 110 in the season standings after next week’s Genesis Championship. South Korea will retain full tour status. The top 70 will qualify for the race to Dubai playoffs starting with the Abu Dhabi HSBC championship November 6th to 9th and concluding at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai November 13th to 16th. Every swing in Delhi matters, especially for players hovering near those crucial cut lines. This long- aaited tournament also marks the DP World Tour’s response to LIIV Golf’s growing presence in India. After LIIV’s successful exhibitions brought global stars to the region, the DP World Tour added this event to its 2026 calendar, aligning with Rory Mroyy’s vision of a truly global tour spanning Asia, Australia, and beyond. Fans can catch all the live action on Sky Sports Golf, starting at 6:30 a.m. Thursday, 7:30 a.m. Friday, 7:30 a.m. Saturday on Sky Sports main event. Switching to Sky Sports Golf at 8 col as for the marquee groups. Rory Mroy te’s off at 7:25 a.m. local time, 2:55 MBST, alongside Victor Havland and Ben Griffin if his visa comes through in time. Michael Kim is slated to start at 7:45 a.m. 3:15 a.m. British summer time with Dylan Adu and Indian local favorite Manugandis. For Michael Kim, this week is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable of his career. Between global travel, visa drama, and a race against the clock, he’s facing every golfer’s nightmare, arriving blind to a $4 million event. But if his recent performances are any indication, Kim could still turn adversity into another milestone moment.
