Sports

American Golfer Chides England’s Refusal To Combat Heat Despite Luxury Not Afforded To Other Athletes

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iStockphoto / Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Michael Kim is surprised there is no air conditioning in England.


Michael Kim is gearing up for his fourth appearance in the Open Championship this weekend at Royal Birkdale. He booked an AirbnB this week in Southport.

It took him some time to secure those living accommodations. He was deterred by some locations’ refusal to combat the heat.

Air conditioning is not really a thing in England. That’s no secret. There are legitimate reasons for the feature’s absence. Simply put, it’s not a necessity.

The country stays mild to warm in the summers and cooler in the winters. Southport, in particular, sees less extremes due to its position on the coast.

A/C is a luxury. Open windows can serve the same purpose in most cases. The English rarely need to beat the heat. It’s an expense that’s been deemed unnecessary by residents. Older infrastructure only adds to the costs of installation.

Kim grew up in San Diego. Air conditioning is something engrained in his everyday life. He remains floored when traveling overseas.

Michael Kim is in town for the Open.

Kim has played in the tournament two of the last three years, missing the cut both times. He did record a T35 finish in his debut in 2018. The golfer plans to reverse his recent struggles and finish the weekend in Southport.

He will tee off with the second group on Thursday morning at 6:46 am local time. Until then, he’s hitting the links for practice rounds and preparation.

He’s experienced some warmer weather thus far in his brief stay. Kim’s social media timeline suggests he arrived in England on Sunday after the Scottish Open. The high was 85 degrees, fresh off a near-90-degree Saturday.

Temperatures are expected to stay in the 80s through Wednesday. They’ll then drop just in time for the tournament’s start.

The country has experienced a heat wave this summer. Record highs have been set throughout the UK and Europe. It was reportedly the hottest June ever in England. Residents are bracing for a scorching July and August, too.

It’s put the debate about air conditioning back on the table. The longer the heat stays, the stronger the argument becomes to make the switch. Michael Kim is surprised they haven’t done so yet.

Kim eventually did find a spot with A/C. He was able to thanks to a luxury not afforded to many other professional athletes. He should consider himself lucky the PGA Tour doesn’t take the same stance as the UCI!

Tour de France riders are baking.

France, too, is experiencing a hot summer. Cyclists participating in the event are not happy with their living situations. Many are sleeping on hotel balconies in attempts to beat the heat.

Air conditioning is not available in their rooms. It’s cooler to sleep outdoors than in.

Cycling teams must use hotels they are assigned without exceptions. They cannot book their own rooms. They cannot stay in a motorhome.

It’s put many in an uncomfortable predicament.

Michael Kim does not have that dilemma. He was able to find his own housing. It has air conditioning. He will be as comfortable as possible during the Open Championship.

PGA Tour players are responsible for booking their own accommodations during competition. That includes covering room and board, as well as airfare.

Many stay in hotels. Others choose to rent homes. Some might overnight in a camper or motel. There are options.

While the obvious drawback is the cost, it does provide flexibility. Kim was able to book a home with A/C as a result. Other pro athletes don’t have the luxury. The options might’ve been slim, at least he had a say on his stay.