Tom Kim

Tom Kim's Early Life and Background

Tom Kim, whose birth name is Kim Joo-hyung, was born in South Korea on June 21, 2002. In addition to his two victories on the Asian and Korean tours, he has three wins on the PGA Tour. Kim was raised by a golfer, Kim Chang-ik, his father, who is fluent in English and was formerly a tour pro before turning to teaching. He was raised in Australia, the Philippines, and Thailand.

Kim Joo-hyung's nickname, "Tom," alludes to the character from the well-known children's book from Britain, Thomas the Tank Engine, who is an overachiever in the railyard despite lacking the strength or lineage of the more powerful locomotives. According to Golf Digest, this is an entirely inappropriate and unsuitable metaphor for Tom Kim.

Tom, who speaks three languages (Tagalog, English, and Korean) and has lived in five different countries, is also stubborn; as a child, he called himself "Thomas" not only because he loved the show but also because he refused to acknowledge that his parents had the final say in what to name him. However, he almost chose "Buzz Lightyear" and is happy he didn't go with it now.

At a press conference held prior to the 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions, Kim talked about his first meeting with Tiger Woods. He remembers going to Australia when he was five or six years old and first meeting Woods. Kim was wearing his TW cap when he yelled, "Go Tiger!" and tipped it, sending thousands of people running to the restroom.

Tom Kim's Amateur Golf Career

Tom Kim took home the titles in the W Express RVF Cup Amateur Championship and the Philippine Amateur Open Championship in 2018. However, not much is known about his amateur career.

Tom Kim's Professional Career

In May 2018, Kim began competing professionally on the Philippine Golf Tour. He began 2019 primarily performing on the Asian Development Tour. His first event, the PGM ADT Championship, was won in Malaysia in late June, six strokes ahead of the field. He had two fourth-place finishes in Malaysia in March, followed by two runner-up finishes in Thailand.

Kim won by nine shots in the Raya Pakistan Open in October and the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament in Indonesia in August, following a playoff. His third victory guaranteed him a spot on the Asian Tour for the remainder of 2019. He became the second youngest professional winner on the Asian Tour when he won the Panasonic Open India in November, aged 17 years and 149 days.

Kim placed fourth in the SMBC Singapore Open at the beginning of 2020. His strong performance earned him entry into the 2020 Open Championship, his first major championship, in the Open Qualifying Series event.

Kim triumphed over Rattanon Wannasrichan in the playoffs to win the 2022 Singapore International. He finished as the top-money winner of the 2020–21–22 Asian Tour season the following week after finishing in second place at the SMBC Singapore Open. Kim was one of three players who qualified for the Genesis Scottish Open in July through the Korea Professional Golfers' Association (KPGA).

Kim qualified for Special Temporary Membership on the PGA Tour for the balance of the 2021–2022 season after finishing T47 at the 2022 Open Championship. He finished seventh at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, earning him a spot on the PGA Tour for the 2022–2023 season.

Kim won the Wyndham Championship the following week and qualified for the 2022 FedEx Cup Playoffs with a final-round 61. He shot quadruple bogeys in the opening round of the Wyndham Championship but ended with a 9-under 61 to win by five shots.

As the first player to win twice on the tour before turning 21 since Tiger Woods in 1996, Kim made history in October 2022 when he won the Shriners Children's Open in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was the second-youngest two-time PGA Tour winner, behind Ralph Guldahl.

Kim became the only golfer to win the same PGA Tour event twice in a single season when she captured the Shriners Children's Open in October 2023, sharing the record with Byron Nelson.

Tom Kim's Playing Style

Tom Kim has a "gorgeous, simple swing," according to a Golf article. Although little is known about Kim's playing style, his success on the golf course can be attributed to a combination of skill and a well-thought-out game plan. He has excellent driving ability, which gives him a big advantage off the tee and helps him set up good approach shots.

Kim's mental toughness and concentration on the task at hand are also important factors in his success. In order to preserve composure and remain consistent throughout competitions, Tom Kim relies on his ability to make shots and his strong short game.

Tom Kim's Golf Journey

Tom Kim, who was born on June 21, 2002, as Kim Joo-hyung in South Korea, has an incredible golf career. Growing up, Kim lived in Australia, the Philippines, and Thailand with his father, an ex-professional golfer who is now a teacher. He was named "Tom" because of his affection for Thomas the Tank Engine. In 2018, he won the Philippine Amateur Open Championship and the W Express RVF Cup Amateur Championship in his amateur career.

Kim's early success on the Asian Development Tour helped him secure a spot on the Asian Tour after turning professional in 2018. Remarkably, at just 17, he became the second-youngest Asian Tour professional winner.

Kim's ascent to fame continued with wins on the PGA Tour, where he equaled Tiger Woods' record by winning twice before turning 21. Kim is a rising star in the golf world owing to his accomplishments, which include back-to-back victories in the Shriners Children's Open in 2022 and 2023.

Tom Kim's Achievements

As per the PGA Tour’s official website, the achievements of Tom Kim are as follows:

• PGA Tour Wins: Tom Kim has secured victory in 3 PGA Tour events.

• International Wins: Kim boasts an impressive total of 7 international victories.

• Cuts Made: Out of the 44 events played, Tom Kim has made the cut in 36.

• Runner-Up: Kim has secured a runner-up position in at least one event.

• Third-Place Finishes: Kim has achieved a third-place finish in at least one event.

• Top 5 Finishes: Kim has landed in the top 5 in 6 different events.

• Top 10 Finishes: Kim's consistent performance is reflected in 12 top-10 finishes.

Tom Kim's Majors

Tom Kim's Awards and Honors

Tom Kim's International Wins

Tom Kim's Net Worth

The net worth of Tom Kim is estimated to be $6 million as of 2023. Following his victory at the 2023 Shriner's Children's Open, Kim saw a 13% increase in his career income. His official payouts are much less than his net worth though.

Even though his career is still very young, he has already made a name for himself among the top players on the PGA Tour. He signed with Nike earlier this year and was spotted sporting the "Swoosh" logo.

The 21-year-old recently won his third career title at the Shriner's Children's Open. Kim played a full schedule for the first time in the 2023 season. Kim experienced many highs and lows, but he also had some incredible moments, such as making his FedEx Cup Playoffs debut and finishing in second place at the Open Championship.

Kim participated in 27 events in 2023, making 22 cuts and nine top-10 appearances. With total earnings of $8,514,419 this year, Kim's career earnings soared by 68 percent. At present, Kim's career earnings total $11,437,258.

Tom Kim's Ventures

Tom Kim, a player on the PGA Tour, is the "latest member of the Nike family," having signed a contract for off-season endorsements. The 2023 Sentry Tournament of Champions was held at the Kapalua Plantation Course in Hawaii, where Kim was spotted "sporting the swoosh on his cap, his shirt, and his shoes." However, his income from the endorsement is not known.

Tom Kim's Assets

There is no information available about the assets of Tom Kim.

Tom Kim's Father

Changik Lee, the father of Tom Kim, was a professional golfer. Although not much is known about him or his golf career, it is obvious that Tom's dedication and skill have been inspired by his passion for the game.

Tom often says that his father was his first and most valuable coach. His father instilled in him the qualities of resolve, dedication, and caution that have become his hallmarks on the golf course.

Tom's father, though he would prefer to stay out of the spotlight, is obviously very involved in his son's golf career. Behind closed doors, he remains Tom's go-to mentor and trusted advisor, offering him wise guidance for the betterment of his golf career.

Tom Kim's Mother

Tom Kim's mother, Kwanjoo Kim, has continuously supported him during his golfing career. Her love and support have been crucial to Tom's success.

Kwanjoo Kim is a well-known chef in the culinary community who runs an established business called "Silang Garden."

Tom's golf career has benefited greatly from Kwanjoo's support, which has helped him through the highs and lows of the cutthroat golf industry. Currently ranked 11th in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR), Kwanjoo is extremely proud of him.

Tom Kim's Wife

Tom Kim is single as of 2023, and no information regarding a girlfriend is available either. Kim's priorities and areas of concentration appear to be his professional golf career goals.

Tom Kim's Cars

Unfortunately, there is no information available regarding the cars owned by Tom Kim.