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Kim Jong Il: better than Tiger? AP/Press Association Images

Sharp shooter: remembering the day Kim Jong Il shot 38-under par

As North Koreans mourn the death of “Dear Leader”, we take a look back at his most famous sporting feat. This definitely happened.

OPEN THE GUINNESS Book of Records and it will tell you that Ryo Ishikawa’s 58 in May of last year at The Crowns in Japan is the lowest official total for a single round of golf.

Of course, had the mandatory Guinness observer been present when Kim Jong Il played a round at Pyongyang Golf Course in North Korea in 1994, the record books might tell a different story.

Unsurprisingly, the details of Kim’s ceremonial round at North Korea’s first golf course are sketchy; even the exact date is open to question.

What isn’t in doubt however is that Korea’s “Dear Leader”, then a sprightly 52-year-old who had recently succeeded his father Kim Il Sung as the leader of the Democratic People’s Republic, put in quite the performance.

Accompanied by 17 armed bodyguards and Pyongyang’s course professional, Kim managed to complete the 7,700-yard course in a remarkable 34 shots, shooting no worse than a birdie on any hole and scoring five holes-in-one to boot.

How do we know of this miraculous occurrence? Well, it was widely reported at the time by North Korea’s government-controlled media.

And, if that’s not enough proof for the doubters among you, Park Young Man, the professional who had accompanied Kim on his record-breaking jaunt, confirmed it to the International Herald Tribune a couple of months later.

Describing Kim as “an excellent golfer,” Park hardly needed to think before assuring journalist Eric Ellis that “Dear Leader” had scored a two on the 370-yard dog-leg that is Pyongyang’s first hole.

Fortunately for the professional reputation of lesser luminaries such as Tiger Woods, Kim was too busy to keep up the hobby, packing in his budding golf career after just one round to concentrate on the well-being of his people.

Watch: North Koreans mourn the death of dear leader Kim Jong Il

The Morning Score: Monday

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22 Comments
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    Mute Seanie Bourke
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    Dec 4th 2021, 6:16 PM

    Load of twaddle if he is so good play him more. Total lip service

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    Mute Paul Jennings
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    Dec 4th 2021, 6:32 PM

    @Seanie Bourke: it’s called man management ya cl0wn

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    Mute Macca1986
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    Dec 4th 2021, 6:58 PM

    @Paul Jennings: it’s not man management. he gets game time here and there because In klopps eyes the other 4 are better then him. he has scored some v important goals for Liverpool but will eventually get fed up and will want more active game time and move on.

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    Mute Sea__Point
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    Dec 4th 2021, 7:06 PM

    @Macca1986: precisely the definition of man management, he gets used when needed because there are better players ahead of him. But he gets credit when he gets in and delivers, so he stays and is a useful squad member when called upon….

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    Mute Paul Jennings
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    Dec 4th 2021, 7:09 PM

    @Macca1986: it’s total man management he is needed as back up so when he playes well u praise in to keep him happy all managers do it

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    Mute Paul Owens
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    Dec 4th 2021, 9:08 PM

    @Paul Jennings: hate to say it but Ur the c!own,big time

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    Mute Seanie Bourke
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    Dec 4th 2021, 9:57 PM

    @Paul Jennings: no bucko it not . He comes out and says” im shocked no one came in for him in d summer’ thats as good as saying he can go. But in the other breath he is coming out about his next manager total cr ap very much like your comment to me

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    Mute Mickety Dee
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    Dec 4th 2021, 10:21 PM

    @Seanie Bourke: That’s not man management. He is encouraging him to go by saying he needs to get more game time. Klopp is clearly desperate to sell him

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    Mute Derek Doogan
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    Dec 5th 2021, 12:44 AM

    @Seanie Bourke: it’s OK for us to comment that’s why klopp is the manager and a good 1 at that too

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    Mute Max Bailey
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    Dec 5th 2021, 11:40 AM

    @Seanie Bourke: it’s the truth. Origi isn’t as good as the other 4 so doesn’t play that often. Klopp is showing respect by saying he deserves to play more in general… It just won’t be at Liverpool.

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    Mute Eugene Comaskey
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    Dec 5th 2021, 12:08 PM

    @Paul Jennings: No, it’s called ” talking out of the two sides of his mouth”. B…….t talk.

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    Mute Alan McMillan
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    Dec 5th 2021, 12:11 PM

    @Mickety Dee: Everton will buy him for £50million, and that will be the last we hear of him…

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    Mute James Doherty
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    Dec 4th 2021, 9:03 PM

    This is Divock Origi’s World and we’re just living in it

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    Mute sean de paore
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    Dec 4th 2021, 9:57 PM

    He’s welcome at Elland Road at any stage, quality player.

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    Mute Graham Ryall
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    Dec 4th 2021, 9:44 PM

    Another runners-up medal for the lad before he leaves. 7 minutes they spent on top and yet they think its May

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    Mute Peterino O Foylio
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    Dec 4th 2021, 10:20 PM

    @Graham Ryall: yes another runners up medal to add to the prem league one, the champs league one, the super cup one and the fifa World Cup ones that he won with LFC. Sorry those ones aren’t runners up ones. Not a bad haul at LFC. And you are right the seasons far from over but if you think LFC aren’t contenders then maybe stick a few quid on Newcastle to top the prem league come end of season! Money for jam son.

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    Mute Nigel O'Connor
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    Dec 5th 2021, 6:33 AM

    @Graham Ryall: only a United w@nk would say thay

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    Mute Bryan Smyth
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    Dec 5th 2021, 7:50 AM

    @Graham Ryall: Man u supporter I guess

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    Mute Paul Owens
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    Dec 5th 2021, 11:23 AM

    @Graham Ryall: what a t00ser!go and get an education

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    Mute ruairi
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    Dec 5th 2021, 2:07 PM

    @Graham Ryall: your whinging and tears bring me joy. Understandable though, given that we cleared out your own stadium for yas. Lol.

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    Mute Darren
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    Dec 4th 2021, 9:53 PM

    Hes another Solksjaer only not as good and he(Ole) was quite happy being a squad player…
    If you’re picking up handy money and winning Medals then you’re more than likely going to stay put.. Origi is exactly that

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    Mute Johnny Mads
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    Dec 4th 2021, 9:55 PM

    @Darren: bit of a premature comparison

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    Mute Darren
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    Dec 4th 2021, 9:59 PM

    @Johnny Mads: how he’s hardly anywhere near Oles level now??

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    Mute slfc21
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    Dec 4th 2021, 10:12 PM

    @Johnny Mads: it’s a fine comparison in terms of their value to a team. Impact subs. Very important CL goals. I don’t think Ole get half the plaudits he gets from utd fans without the 99 final. Divock had a very similar season in CL.

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    Mute Max Bailey
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    Dec 5th 2021, 11:42 AM

    @Darren: I’d say it’s a safe bet that Origi is a better manager than Ole!

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    Mute Darren
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    Dec 5th 2021, 12:55 PM

    @Max Bailey: bit of a premature comparison there, Ole done what he had to do and steadied the Ship, just like some relationships it ran its course. Origi is almost a super sub but he’s a bit to go yet to get near Oles level for scoring goals off the Bench and just like Ole makes very little difference when he actually starts a game..

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    Mute Eugene Comaskey
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    Dec 5th 2021, 12:07 PM

    That is some statement from that Manager — talking out of both sides of his mouth . ” one of the best strikers I ever seen”" — but he cannot get into the team, only now and again. What kind of nonsense is he talking???.

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    Mute James Butler
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    Dec 5th 2021, 1:24 PM

    @Eugene Comaskey: What Klopp actually said was he’s one of the best ‘finishers’ not ‘striker’…two very different things. And Origi can’t get into the team because there’s four of the best strikers in the world ahead of him, pretty simple really.

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