Meet Kris Kim’s Mother, Ji-hyun Suh: Personal Life, Career & Other Details About the Ex-LPGA Star Explored

The CJ Cup Byron Nelson will kick off soon! A lot of eyes seem to be on a certain amateur golfer, none other than the Teen athlete, Kris Kim. The English player, who is also a CJ Group ambassador, is making his PGA Tour debut at the upcoming event via a sponsor’s exemption. Such a tremendous step was all possible due to the wisdom he was able to display on and off the course, credited largely to his mother, who was also an LPGA Pro—none other than Ji-Hyun Suh.

The golfer had previously divulged how he always used to watch her play, leading him to fall in love with the sport himself. It is, then, completely natural for the community to become curious about the athlete’s mother, who herself was a part of the Korean National team!

Kris Kim following in the footsteps of his golfer mother

“I’ll definitely ask my mum for advice,” said an ecstatic Kim as he was spotted gearing up for his debut on the Jay Monahan-led circuit. This is expected since his mom was someone who began her own career at the age of 13, and went ahead to turn professional in 1998 after becoming part of the national team.

The woman golfer, who was originally from Seoul and is currently residing in the UK, turned to the sport thanks to her father, who was a businessman in Korea. He persuaded her to turn to golf despite her liking tennis more and then took her to the driving range at five in the morning to hit the balls. “I have another four sisters,” recounted Kim’s mother during an interview a day before the 2020 OCA Augas Santas International Ladies Open before adding, “I am the youngest one, and my father thought it was okay if I was the only one playing sport and he decided that it would be golf.”

Moving forward, Kris Kim’s mother played in the US for a total of two years after earning her conditional card in the country. However, having difficulties with the language and being a solo traveler due to her mother being unable to travel with her forced her to feel financial pressure. Luckily, a friend informed her of the Tour in Japan, where she was able to earn an exempt card and meet her soulmate—Kim’s father. After much discussion between the future husband and wife, Ji-Hyun Suh decided to quit in 2002 and didn’t play in any events for more than 12 years.

Now, her son and amateur golfer, Kris Kim, is gearing up for his debut on the men’s circuit, a year after beating Miles Russell, the youngest player to make a cut on the KFT, at the 2023 Ryder Cup in a singles match. She would surely want to support him both on and off the greens with her expertise, using which she made a living after retiring from the sport!

What does Kim’s mother do now?

After shifting to the United Kingdom with her husband, the female golfer took up the job of a teacher of the sport at a driving range and a golf course in Surrey. Interestingly enough, Kim’s mother had never hit a golf ball through all these years until the beginning of February 2020, following which she participated at the OCA Augas Santas International Ladies Open.

“When I played 12 years ago my driving accuracy was very high but now it is not so good,” admitted the female athlete before rating her short game as the best aspect she has at the moment. The amateur golfer’s mother even mentioned how pressured she feels due to her pupils being back at home while participating in a tournament, such as the Ladies Open. Well, she can rest easy now since it’s going to be her son, Kris Kim, whom she taught the game when he was 5, who will be hoping to make her mother proud this time around!