Si Woo Kim Bio
Si Woo Kim, born on June 28, 1995, in Seoul, South Korea, is a professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour. He made a significant mark in golf history by winning The Players Championship in 2017 at the age of 21, becoming the youngest ever winner of the event. A graduate of Yonsei University, Kim turned professional in 2012 and quickly established himself on the international stage. Known for his composure under pressure and steady ball-striking, he has accumulated four PGA Tour victories and one Web.com Tour title over the course of his career.
Early Life and Background
Si Woo Kim was born on June 28, 1995, in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in a country with a deep appreciation for golf. From a young age, he showed a natural aptitude for the sport, training in a culture that has produced numerous world-class players. His early development in the Korean golf system gave him a strong technical foundation and a competitive mindset that would later serve him well on the global stage.
Kim later attended Yonsei University, one of South Korea’s most prestigious institutions, where he balanced his academic commitments with an increasingly demanding amateur golf schedule. His performances as a young amateur drew the attention of professional scouts, and by the time he was a teenager, he was already competing against seasoned players. This blend of education and elite-level competition helped shape his disciplined approach to the game.
Path to Professional Golf
Si Woo Kim’s transition to the professional ranks began in 2012, when he entered the PGA Tour Qualifying School. He finished tied for 20th at the event and, at just 17 years, 5 months, and 6 days old, became the youngest player ever to graduate from the qualifying school. Because of PGA Tour rules, however, he could not become a full member until he turned 18, midway through the 2013 season.
During the 2013 season, Kim made eight PGA Tour starts but struggled to find his footing, missing the cut in seven events and withdrawing from another. He also played seven Web.com Tour events that year, making four cuts. The experience gained during this difficult rookie period proved invaluable, and by 2014, his game began to mature on the Web.com Tour.
Si Woo Kim Career
Early Career (2014–2015)
Kim played the 2014 Web.com Tour season with growing confidence, making 15 cuts in 19 starts and recording a third-place finish at the Cleveland Open. His breakthrough came in July 2015, when he won the Stonebrae Classic, his first professional victory. At the time, he was the second-youngest winner in Web.com Tour history, trailing only Jason Day.
That strong season culminated in a tenth-place finish on the Web.com Tour money list, earning Kim a place on the PGA Tour for 2016. His rapid rise from teenage qualifier to full PGA Tour member highlighted both his talent and his ability to adapt quickly to higher levels of competition.
PGA Tour Breakthrough (2016–2017)
Kim’s first PGA Tour victory arrived at the 2016 Wyndham Championship, where, at 21 years old, he became the season’s youngest winner. The triumph announced his arrival among the tour’s elite and signaled that his development was on a steep upward trajectory.
Just months later, in May 2017, Kim captured The Players Championship, often referred to as golf’s unofficial fifth major. He beat Ian Poulter and Louis Oosthuizen by three strokes with a bogey-free final-round 69, becoming the second Korean to win the title after K. J. Choi in 2011. Ranked 73rd in the world entering the event, Kim was the second-lowest ranked player ever to win The Players. He moved up to 28th in the Official World Golf Ranking following the victory.
Continued PGA Tour Success (2018–2023)
In April 2018, Kim came close to another win at the RBC Heritage, where he held the lead for much of the final round before falling into a sudden-death playoff. He lost on the third extra hole when Satoshi Kodaira holed a lengthy birdie putt on the par-3 17th. Despite the defeat, the performance reinforced his reputation as a player capable of contending in high-pressure situations.
Kim earned his third PGA Tour title in January 2021 at The American Express in La Quinta, California. He fired a final-round 64 to finish one stroke ahead of Patrick Cantlay. Later that August, he tied for the lead after 72 holes at the Wyndham Championship but lost in a playoff to Kevin Kisner. In September 2022, Kim represented the International team at the Presidents Cup, winning three of his four matches. He added a fourth PGA Tour victory in January 2023 at the Sony Open in Hawaii, birdieing the final two holes to win by one shot over Hayden Buckley.
Notable Events and Milestones
Si Woo Kim’s career is defined by a series of historic firsts. His victory at the 2017 Players Championship made him the youngest winner of the event at 21, and his qualification from PGA Tour Q School in 2012 made him the youngest player ever to graduate from that tournament. These milestones, combined with four PGA Tour titles and a Presidents Cup appearance, underscore his standing as one of the leading South Korean players of his generation.
Si Woo Kim Career Wins
Si Woo Kim has compiled five professional victories across the PGA Tour and the Web.com Tour. His wins include four PGA Tour titles and one Web.com Tour championship, reflecting a steady progression through the developmental ranks to the highest level of professional golf.
PGA Tour Highlights
Kim’s PGA Tour wins began with the 2016 Wyndham Championship and continued with the 2017 Players Championship, the 2021 The American Express, and the 2023 Sony Open in Hawaii. Each of these victories showcased different aspects of his game, from clutch bogey-free play at TPC Sawgrass to a closing birdie-birdie finish at Waialae Country Club. He has also recorded strong playoff appearances, including a runner-up finish at the 2018 RBC Heritage and a tie for the lead at the 2021 Wyndham Championship before falling in extra holes.
Other Wins and Performances
On the Web.com Tour, Kim’s lone victory came at the 2015 Stonebrae Classic, where he became the second-youngest winner in tour history. He also represented the International team at the 2022 Presidents Cup, posting a 3-1-0 record across four matches.
Si Woo Kim Family
Personal Life
Si Woo Kim is married to Oh Ji-hyun. Details about his family life outside of golf are kept largely private, in keeping with the personal approach favored by many professional players on the PGA Tour.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 PGA Tour season, Si Woo Kim continues to compete at the highest level, building on the momentum of his 2023 Sony Open victory. With four PGA Tour titles and a Presidents Cup appearance to his credit, he remains a respected presence in tournament fields and is regarded as a steady performer capable of contending on a variety of course types.
Kim’s career arc, from teenage Q School graduate to Players Championship winner, provides a strong foundation for continued success. His track record in pressure situations, including the bogey-free final round at TPC Sawgrass and a closing birdie-birdie finish at the 2023 Sony Open, suggests that he will remain a factor in marquee events throughout the 2025 campaign.