Grace Kim Bio
Grace Kim (born 13 December 2000) is a Korean-Australian professional golfer who plays on the LPGA Tour. Born in Sydney, New South Wales, she developed her game as an elite amateur before turning professional in late 2021. She has since collected multiple professional titles, including her first LPGA victory in 2023 and her first major championship in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Grace Kim was born on 13 December 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, and was raised in the suburb of Greenacre by Korean parents. Growing up in a strong sporting environment, she was introduced to golf at a young age and quickly demonstrated an aptitude for the game. She developed her early game at Avondale Golf Club, where she remains a member.
Her amateur career was stellar from the start. In 2019, she reached No. 29 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, becoming Australia’s highest-ranked female amateur. She captured titles such as the 2017 Australian Girls’ Amateur and the 2018 Annika Invitational Australasia in New Zealand, where she fired rounds of 72, 62, and 68 for a 16-under total.
Path to Professional Golf
Kim’s path to the LPGA Tour was built through a series of representative and amateur achievements. She represented Australia at the 2018 Espirito Santo Trophy and the Queen Sirikit Cup, and she won the Patsy Hankins Trophy with the Asia/Pacific team in 2018. At the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, she claimed an individual gold medal, and in 2019 she participated in the Korean National Sports Festival, where she shot a 61 to win the international women’s gold.
She also earned the Karrie Webb Scholarship four times and was co-captain of the NSW Women’s team that defended their crown at the 2019 Australian Interstate Teams Matches. In 2019, she became the second Australian ever to compete in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, further raising her profile on the global stage.
Grace Kim Career
Amateur Years (2017–2021)
During her amateur career, Kim assembled a deep résumé of wins. After back-to-back victories at the NSW Women’s Amateur in 2020 and 2021, she triumphed at the 2021 Australian Women’s Amateur in Adelaide. She spent 7.5 months in the United States during 2021, winning two titles on the Women’s All-Pro Tour as an amateur.
She also finished tied 10th at the Prasco Charity Championship and competed in the U.S. Women’s Amateur, where her run ended against semi-finalist Rachel Heck. In addition, she won a bronze medal at the 2017 Toyota Junior Golf World Cup in Japan, demonstrating her consistency across international competitions.
ALPG and Epson Tour Years (2021–2022)
Kim turned professional late in 2021 and immediately won the TPS Sydney on the ALPG Tour. She defended that title in 2022 and climbed to 288th in the Women’s World Golf Rankings by March 2022. She also gained conditional status for the 2022 Epson Tour at LPGA Q-School, setting the stage for her move to the LPGA.
LPGA Tour Breakthrough (2023–Present)
In April 2023, Kim captured her first LPGA title at the Lotte Championship, played at Hoakalei Country Club. She won on the first playoff hole with a birdie after Yu Liu and Sung Yu-jin found bunkers with their second shots, announcing her arrival on the world’s premier women’s tour.
She continued her ascent on the LPGA Tour, and in 2025 she won her first major championship at the Evian Championship, defeating Atthaya Thitikul in a playoff. That victory cemented her status among the game’s elite and marked a defining moment in her professional career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among her signature achievements, Kim’s 2025 Evian Championship win stands as her first major title, while her 2023 Lotte Championship playoff victory was her breakthrough on the LPGA Tour. She was also recognized as Golf NSW’s Female Player of the Year in 2019, and her 2018 Youth Olympics gold medal in Buenos Aires remains one of the defining moments of her amateur journey.
Grace Kim Career Wins
Grace Kim has built a balanced professional résumé that includes ALPG Tour titles, a Women’s All-Pro Tour win, an Epson Tour win, and LPGA Tour victories. Her success on multiple tours reflects her consistency and ability to perform under pressure across a range of competitive formats.
LPGA Tour Highlights
Kim’s first LPGA title came at the 2023 Lotte Championship at Hoakalei Country Club, where she won a playoff on the first extra hole. Her second LPGA title came at the 2025 Evian Championship, a major championship she won in a playoff over Atthaya Thitikul. These wins established her as a major champion and a regular contender on tour.
Other Wins & Performances
Kim has won twice on the ALPG Tour at the TPS Sydney, in 2021 and 2022, and twice on the Women’s All-Pro Tour in 2021. She also earned conditional status on the Epson Tour and competed successfully in major amateur events, including the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, where she was the second Australian to participate.
Grace Kim Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Grace Kim was raised in Greenacre, New South Wales, by Korean parents who supported her early interest in golf. Her family’s encouragement helped shape her disciplined approach to the game and contributed to her rapid rise through the Australian amateur ranks.
Personal Life
Kim continues to reside in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, where she remains connected to the local golf community. She is a member of Avondale Golf Club, the club where she developed much of her early game.
2025 Season Performance
Grace Kim’s 2025 season was defined by her victory at the Evian Championship, where she defeated Atthaya Thitikul in a playoff to capture her first major title. The win served as a breakthrough moment and elevated her profile within the LPGA Tour as she continues to compete at the highest level.
Throughout the season, she remained a consistent presence in the field, drawing on the confidence gained from her 2023 Lotte Championship playoff win. Her major victory highlighted her composure in high-pressure moments and signaled her arrival among the tour’s top competitors.
As the LPGA Tour season continues, Kim’s momentum from her 2025 major win is expected to play a key role in her pursuit of additional titles and a strong position in the rankings. Her partnership with her team and her disciplined preparation remain central to her outlook heading into the rest of the year.