Michael Kim Bio
Michael Sangwon Kim (born July 14, 1993) is an American professional golfer who competes primarily on the PGA Tour. He is recognized for a breakthrough victory at the 2018 John Deere Classic and a European Tour win at the 2025 FedEx Open de France. A former standout at the University of California, Berkeley, Kim earned the 2013 Haskins Award as the top player in NCAA Division I men’s golf. He continues to play out of Houston, Texas.
Early Life and Background
Michael Sangwon Kim was born on July 14, 1993, in Seoul, South Korea. He is the son of Sun Kim and Yun Kim, and was raised in San Diego, California, where he attended Torrey Pines High School. Growing up in a region known for year-round golf weather helped shape his early interest in the sport and provided access to competitive junior circuits in Southern California.
His formative years were spent balancing school with tournament play, and he developed a strong amateur résumé before college. He went on to enroll at the University of California, Berkeley, where he joined a competitive men’s golf program. At Cal he was teammates with fellow professional Max Homa, a relationship that connected him to one of the most respected networks in American amateur golf.
Path to Professional Golf
Kim’s amateur career reached its peak during the 2012–13 college season. In April 2013, he was named Pac-12 Men’s Golfer of the Month, and on June 2, 2013, he became the first Cal men’s golfer to win national player of the year honors, taking the Division I Jack Nicklaus Award from the Golf Coaches Association of America. Shortly afterward, on June 11, 2013, he received the Haskins Award, presented to the top men’s college golfer in the country through a vote of players, coaches, and national media.
That summer, Kim qualified for the 2013 U.S. Open by sharing medalist honors at his sectional qualifier. He reached as high as a tie for 10th through three rounds at Merion Golf Club and finished tied for 17th as the low amateur. These results confirmed his readiness for the professional ranks, and Kim turned professional in December 2013.
Michael Kim Career
Early Career (2013–2015)
After turning professional, Kim earned limited status on the 2014 Web.com Tour by finishing T-56 at the Web.com Tour Qualifying Tournament. He played in 17 events, made 11 cuts, and recorded a season-best T-2 at the Price Cutter Charity Championship. The experience provided a foundation for the following season.
In 2015, Kim returned to the Web.com Tour through the Web.com Tour Finals and put together a stronger campaign. He finished 13th on the regular-season money list, a result that earned him a full PGA Tour card for 2016.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (2016–2018)
Kim held full PGA Tour status from 2016 onward. His first PGA Tour victory came at the 2018 John Deere Classic, where he won by eight strokes and set the tournament scoring record. The result also secured the final available invitation to the 2018 Open Championship, providing Kim with his first major championship start.
Slump and Korn Ferry Return (2019–2022)
Kim’s form collapsed in 2019, when he missed 19 cuts in 20 PGA Tour starts and dropped to 502nd in the Official World Golf Ranking as of August 26, 2019. The 2020–21 PGA Tour season offered little relief, with only nine made cuts in 30 starts and a 214th-place finish in the 2021 FedEx Cup, costing him his full PGA Tour card. He returned to the Korn Ferry Tour in the 2021–22 season and earned his PGA Tour card back for the 2022–23 campaign.
European Tour Win (2025)
In September 2025, Kim won the FedEx Open de France, his first European Tour title. The victory made him the first American to win the tournament since Barry Jaeckel in 1972 and added an international dimension to his professional résumé.
Notable Events and Milestones
Beyond his PGA Tour win, Kim’s signature achievements include being the 2013 Haskins Award winner, the low amateur at the 2013 U.S. Open, and the first Cal men’s golfer to capture national player of the year honors. His 2025 win in France added a transatlantic chapter to his career and underlined his ability to compete on multiple tours.
Michael Kim Career Wins
Michael Sangwon Kim has recorded two professional victories, one on the PGA Tour and one on the European Tour. The 2018 John Deere Classic remains his lone PGA Tour title, and the 2025 FedEx Open de France stands as his only European Tour win to date.
PGA Tour Highlights
Kim’s PGA Tour win came in dominant fashion at the 2018 John Deere Classic, where he set the tournament scoring record and won by eight strokes. The performance also earned him a place in the 2018 Open Championship field.
Other Wins & Performances
On the developmental circuit, Kim’s best Web.com Tour finish was a T-2 at the 2014 Price Cutter Charity Championship. In early 2025, he added a T-2 at the WM Phoenix Open, signaling a return to form before his breakthrough in France.
Michael Kim Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Michael Sangwon Kim is the son of Sun Kim and Yun Kim. His family relocated from Seoul, South Korea, to San Diego, California, where he grew up and developed his game.
Personal Life
Kim resides in Houston, Texas, and is a United States citizen. He has kept most personal details out of the public record, and verified public information about a spouse or children is not available.
2025 Season Performance
Michael Sangwon Kim’s 2025 season has been defined by a strong return to form. He opened the calendar year with a T-2 finish at the WM Phoenix Open, a result that signaled he had rediscovered his top-level game after several up-and-down seasons. The Phoenix performance helped him build confidence and momentum heading into the summer stretch of the PGA Tour schedule.
The biggest moment of his 2025 campaign came in September, when he won the FedEx Open de France for his first European Tour title. The win in France added a significant international trophy to his résumé and demonstrated his ability to compete and win on European soil. It also confirmed the impact of his work on the Korn Ferry Tour during the 2021–22 season, where he rebuilt his game and earned back his PGA Tour card.
Looking ahead, Kim will look to build on the European Tour breakthrough and chase a second PGA Tour victory, with the long-term goal of stabilizing his position inside the top tier of American professional golf.