“This is my crown,” proud father Jeff Ghim said for his very talented son Doug. While many children make their parents proud by excelling in their own careers, Doug Ghim has taken up the mantle of his father’s dream. So, how has Ghim fared in following his father’s footsteps in the golf realm? Well, if you are a golf fan, you must have been familiar with his name by now.

The golfer officially became a part of the PGA Tour in 2020, but his journey of becoming a golfer started long before that. While he has yet to claim his first victory, his amateur career is nothing short of remarkable.

Doug Ghim’s Journey from Rookie to PGA Tour Pro

With an impressive career so far, Ghim is undoubtedly a rising star in the golf world. And a big credit for it goes to his dad, Jeff, who introduced him to the sport. While some people choose their careers, some are simply destined for where they are. Ghim falls into the latter, picking up his first golf club at just six years old. His father always wanted to be a professional golfer, but destiny had other plans. After three back surgeries, Jeff lost hope in his dream. But he didn’t give up, as with Ghim, his hope once again reignited, and he decided to pass on his passion to his son.

Unlike other golfers, Ghim was not always a professionally taught golfer, as during his junior golf days it was his father who taught him to swing. “He’s coached me my whole life. I guess now with the help of (Texas head coach John Fields) and (Texas assistant coach Jean-Paul Hebert) — they’re my other coaches — but when it comes to knowing me, no one knows myself like my father,” said Jeff.

His Amateur period consisted of several wins, adding to his confidence. He finished as the runner-up in the U.S. Amateur in 2017, which earned him an invitation to the 2018 Masters. His impressive showing at the Masters, where he made three eagles, helped him secure his Korn Ferry Tour Card. Interestingly, during that time, Jeff caddied him. Seeing his dream come true through his son, the proud father said, “This is kind of my American dream.”

The Korn Ferry Tour Championship proved to be a turning point for Doug Ghim, as it was there he earned his PGA Tour card, making his place among the golf’s elite. While many of his peers may have had their privileges in pursuit of this career, all Ghim had was his talent and his dad. This journey, however, was far from easy. The road to the tour came with its fair share of struggles.

How did Ghim make his way to golf?

Ghim’s introduction to golf wasn’t something that came with a lot of resources or privileges but with the sheer dedication and support of his father. As aforementioned, Ghim began learning golf just when he was six years old. He began learning the game, not at fancy clubs but in the backyard of their suburban Chicago home, where Jeff had built a makeshift hitting bay. But why?

Ghim came from a modest family, for whom private clubs were beyond reach. Hence, they played on public courses, often visiting the Arboretum for its affordable twilight rates. Recounting his childhood days, Ghim said in an interview, “I’m sure there was financial stress, I think more than anything, he wanted to see if I actually loved the game.” 

The initial days of his golfing came with many struggles, from fishing golf balls out of water hazards to working through long practice sessions. But this only fueled his passion for the sport.

Today, he has come a long way in his golfing journey, though there are still miles left to cover. With his loved ones by his side, there’s no doubt he will reach wherever he wants. While we know Doug Ghim so far as a talented golfer and devoted son, there’s another side to him that many don’t see—he’s also quite the romantic.

Who is Ghim’s love interest?

Doug Ghim may be making waves in the golf world, but behind the scenes, he shares his life with someone who prefers to stay out of the spotlight—Kelly Xac. While being in the golf profession, Ghim is often in the spotlight. His beloved girlfriend is someone who likes to maintain a private life, which clearly reflected by her private Instagram handle with just over 1200 followers. Perhaps having a public life is not her thing; Ghim often flaunts her on his public Instagram account.

Though Doug is still carving his name in the world of professional golf, he keeps details about his personal life, especially Kelly’s, under wraps. However, what we do know is that Kelly has a successful career on her own. She has been working in the MNC, Deloitte as a tax senior for three years, after starting just as an intern in 2020. Though her world of finance is far different from Ghim’s career, she does have a little interest in golf, as she has mentioned on her LinkedIn that during her time at Texas McCombs School of Business, she was an active member of the Texas Women’s Golf team.

Well, they may share different career paths, but it’s clear that Doug and Kelly have found their own common ground.