Opinion | Humble Si Woo Kim eyes Players Championship crowning glory once more on PGA Tour
- Mix of brutal honesty and tough love from father keeping Kim grounded as he pushes to grow his legacy as one of Asia’s greatest golfers
- ‘Yeah, my dad kept talking to me, you’re not the top player, so don’t try to act like a top player,’ says four-time PGA Tour winner
A mixed dose of brutal honesty and tough love from his father, Du Ryu, has kept Si Woo Kim well and truly grounded as he pushes to grow his legacy on the PGA Tour as one of Asia’s greatest golfers.
Having hit fame early in his career following a string of historic achievements on golf’s biggest stage, the 27-year-old Korean has not let success get to his head despite seeing his trophy shelves being filled with silverware, the latest addition being the Sony Open in Hawaii trophy won in January.
As a 17-year-old, Kim shot to prominence in 2012 by becoming the youngest player to earn a PGA Tour card through the gruelling Qualifying School, which is often regarded as the hardest test in the game. He prevailed through four stages.
Fast forward to 2023 and he is now a proven four-time Tour champion with over US$18 million in winnings. He also holds the proud record as being the youngest Players Championship winner in history following a memorable triumph at TPC Sawgrass in 2017.
Kim also threw in stand-out performances in last September’s Presidents Cup to cement his rising stature.
