Tom Kim has been brimming with the headlines. The 22-year-old professional golfer from South Korea has won 3X on the PGA Tour and 2X on the Asian Tour and the Korean Tour. The rising star has been a part of the golfing world as a very young kid, all thanks to his father. He started playing cricket, basketball, and Australian football. But nothing gave him the spark so that he could stop and feel that this was it. At the age of six, he tried his hand at golf, and well, it pretty much came very naturally to him. And since it was never forced on him, he never really got tired of playing golf and decided to pursue it as his career.
Kim has received all the fame and love that he has, partially because of his hard work, and the other half being the eternal support he receives from his family. “The cost of living in Australia was rising, so our family chose to move home to Asia. My parents decided that the Philippines was the best place for our family and my golf. I was 13 when we moved there. My parents home-schooled me so that I could play as much golf as possible,” he said.
Golf runs in the Kim family
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Many might not know Tom Kim’s father’s name, but he, too, was a professional golfer during his days of youth. Changik Lee played on the Korn Ferry Tour, right from where Tom Kim started his career. His father, with his passion for the sport, became his ultimate inspiration and the driving force behind his interest in golf. However, there is not much information about his father’s days of golfing.
Polls of the day Poll 1 of 6 Who do you think played the most crucial role in Tom Kim’s golfing success? His father His mother His brother His coach Do you think John Daly’s attitude issues should keep him out of the Presidents Cup? Absolutely No way Maybe, but he deserves a chance I don’t care Whats your Perspective on: Is family support the secret weapon behind Tom Kim’s rapid rise in the golfing world? Have an interesting take? Join The Debate Do you think the LPGA Walmart NW Arkansas Championship is doing enough to support LGBTQ+ women? Absolutely Not at all Could do more Not sure Do you think the Presidents Cup will be the same without Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth? Absolutely not It will be different but still exciting Yes, it will be fine I don’t care What do you think is the main reason behind Charlie Woods not attending Stanford? Personal choice Pressure of expectations Different career path Family influence
via Getty MONTREAL, QUEBEC – SEPTEMBER 24: Tom Kim of South Korea and the International Team plays a shot during a practice round before the 2024 Presidents Cup at The Royal Montreal Golf Club on September 24, 2024, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
The 22-year-old rising phenom always had his father as his coach, the first and the most influential one. It was his father who imparted to him the significant values of hard work, discipline, and perseverance, all of which have helped him have a successful career in golf at such an early age. Lee has been Kim’s idol his entire life.
Kwanjoo Kim: The exceptional cook
Tom Kim’s mother is Kwanjoo Kim. She has been one of the strongest pillars of support in both her husband’s and son’s life. She is an exceptional cook, which is, of course, a completely different path taken in comparison to the other two members of the family. Kwanjoo Kim has already reached the peak of success in her field. Kim’s mother also has a business that she is currently running, called the Silang Garden, which is very famous in the culinary industry.
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Both the couple, Kwanjoo and Changik Lee, do not like to appear in front of the camera. Nevertheless, what truly stands out is Tom Kim’s unwavering recognition of the significant impact his parents have had on his golfing journey. From his early days as a junior golfer to his professional golfing days in 2018, and then finally entering the PGA Tour, they have stood like a rock behind him.
Tom Kim’s brother: Jaewook Kim
Tom Kim also has an elder brother, Jaewook Kim. There is not much information on the Internet about the bond that the two share since all the Kims prefer keeping their private lives low and away from the public. However, time and again, Tom Kim has spoken about him in the interviews. He has stated that his brother has been a rather important figure in his golfing career.
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In most of his interviews, he has often said that Jaewook Kim is not only his biggest fan, but also his biggest source of inspiration. The Kim brothers have been moved to several countries due to their parents’ indecisive nature during their childhood. They started with living in China for a few years, before shifting to Australia. They moved there so that they could learn English and stayed there for seven years. Finally, the entire Kim family moved to the Philippines.
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