South Korean young gun Tom Kim wins Shriners Children's Open for second year in a row

Kim successfully held off Canada's Adam Hadwin down the stretch to clinch his third career PGA title.

The Seoul native closed with a five-under-par 66 for a winning total of 20-under 264, one shot clear of Hadwin at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas.

Hadwin was left to rue a bogey at the par-5 16th, which meant his closing birdie proved to be too little too late.

"Number three is so sweet," Kim said.

"It was a long day. I just really felt confident in myself and I was playing really well. If knew if I kind of just 'did me' I was going to be able to do it."

Americans Eric Cole and J.T. Poston, Sweden's Alex Noren and Canadian Taylor Pendrith shared third place a shot behind the runner-up.

Kim's star is rising fast. Still only 21, he already has three PGA Tour titles and a runner-up finish at this year's Open Championship on his resume.

Still it's been a long wait for his first win of the year.

"It has been a long season," Kim said. "I'm very fortunate to defend. I've learned so much this year. It has been a blessing. It has been very humbling.

"Last year after going off such a great run, then not feeling exactly myself mid-year, it has been a grind trying to figure it out.

"It's my first full season, just trying to live up to that expectation -- great year last year, how can it get better? It has been humbling."

Kim's round on Sunday started with a bang, birdying three of the first four holes, but then encountered a setback with back-to-back bogeys at the fifth and sixth as he temporarily relinquished the lead.

But Kim sunk a three-foot birdie putt at the par-5 ninth and six-foot birdie putts at the 12th and par-5 13th to regain the lead at 19-under. 

Meanwhile, Hadwin made a determined effort to stay in the hunt with three birdies in four holes, the last coming after a remarkable drive at the par-4 15th. His two-putt from 24 feet brought him to 19-under, but Kim answered the challenge by sinking a crucial 12-foot birdie putt at the 15th hole, pushing his score to 20-under and reclaiming the lead.

Hadwin's hopes dwindled when he found water with his second shot at the par-5 16th hole and made bogey. In contrast, Kim kept his cool by sinking a tense five-foot par putt and then maintained his lead by parring the 17th and 18th holes, ultimately securing the victory, even as Hadwin managed a late birdie.

READ MORE: Matthieu Pavon secures emotional maiden DP World Tour win at Open de Espana