If you’re into golf, chances are you’ve heard the name Michael S. Kim. He might not be a household name yet, but his solid performances started to turn heads on the PGA Tour. At 31, he’s still working his way up, and his determination is a big part of his story. So, before he makes an even bigger splash, here’s everything you need to know about this up-and-coming golfer.

On July 14, 1993, Michael Kim was born in Seoul, to his South Korean parents, Sun and Yun Kim. The golfer is introverted, a man of few words. Plus, not much is known about his parents, except for the fact that his father is an electronics salesman. According to the UC Berkeley website, he moved to the United States with his family at the age of 7.

Born five years before him, he also has an elder brother, Richard. The entire family settled in San Diego in Del Amar, where Michael Kim completed his schooling at Torrey Pines High School. However, currently, they have their residence in Houston, Texas, and Kim plays from Dallas. Golf came to Michael Kim at a very young age. He hit his first swing as a kid in California after his father introduced him and his older brother to golf.

Kim told the San Diego Union-Tribune, “I always loved sports, I’m one of those guys who could watch Sports Center, 24/7. I tried basketball and football, but golf seemed to be the best for me. I felt golf was one game I could get better at.” He shared that his brother, Richard, tried out for the golf team at Torrey Pines High School but didn’t make the cut, choosing to focus on academics instead. Meanwhile, Michael Kim stayed dedicated to golf and eventually became a standout player. Kim has had the support of his family and parents during his rise to the PGA Tour. Kim played high school golf at Torrey Pines High School.

After his standout high school career, Michael Kim took his talents to the University of California, Berkeley, where he played alongside future PGA star Max Homa. His college years were nothing short of impressive. In April 2013, he earned Pac-12 Men’s Golfer of the Month honors, a precursor to even bigger accolades. That same year, he became the first Cal men’s golfer to win national player of the year honors, being named the Division I recipient of the prestigious Jack Nicklaus Award.

Michael Kim’s professional golf saga

Just days later, Kim claimed the Haskins Award, given to the national player of the year in men’s college golf, voted on by peers, coaches, and media members. His success wasn’t confined to the college circuit—he also qualified for the 2013 U.S. Open, where he made a mark by tying for 10th after the third round and finishing tied for 17th, earning low amateur honors. It was clear: Michael Kim was on his way to a bright future in professional golf.

Kim turned professional in December 2013, and though his early years were tough, they laid the groundwork for his breakthrough. Starting with limited status on the 2014 Web.com Tour, he fought hard to establish himself. Despite finishing T-56 at the Qualifying Tournament, he made a strong showing in his first season. This was the career-best T-2 finish at the Price Cutter Charity Championship. Looks like grinding through all those missed cuts finally paid off—literally! Finishing 13th on the Web.com Tour money list in 2015, Michael Kim turned perseverance into PGA Tour’s golden card.

Since 2016, Kim has been a full-time member of the PGA Tour, marking a major milestone by winning his first PGA Tour event at the 2018 John Deere Classic. His record-breaking eight-shot victory earned him his first win and an invitation to the 2018 Open Championship. However, the next few years were tough. He endured a tough 2019 season, losing 19 cuts in 20 events, and by August that year, he had fallen to 502nd in the world rankings.

Facing setbacks, Kim remained undeterred. In the 2020–21 season, although he made only 9 cuts in thirty events, he overcame adversity, landing 19th on the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour to punch his ticket back to the PGA Tour 2022-2023. This rollercoaster is a testament to Kim’s resilience and determination—proving that, in golf, the road to success is rarely straight but always worth the effort. With his resilience and skill, should Michael Kim get more credit? Let us know in the comments section below!