1. Early Life and Amateur Career
1.1. Birth and Early Life
Kim Meen-whee was born on February 22, 1992, in South Korea. He is a citizen of South Korea.
1.2. Amateur Career and Major Achievements
As an amateur golfer, Kim Meen-whee achieved significant success, most notably at the 2010 Asian Games held in Guangzhou, China. He won two gold medals, securing victory in both the men's individual event and the men's team event. This accomplishment earned him an exemption from mandatory military service in South Korea, a common benefit for South Korean athletes who achieve international sporting distinctions. Following his successful amateur career, Kim turned professional in 2010.
2. Professional Career
Kim Meen-whee's professional career spans multiple international golf tours, where he has consistently competed at a high level.
2.1. Early Professional Activities
After turning professional in 2010, Kim Meen-whee began his journey on the Korean Tour and the OneAsia Tour. In 2011, he demonstrated strong performance on the OneAsia Tour, finishing eighth on its Order of Merit. His first professional victory came in 2012 when he won the Shinhan Donghae Open on the Korean Tour. Kim also sought to gain status on the PGA Tour through the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. In the 2012 Qualifying Tournament, he notably led in the second and third rounds but ultimately finished in 43rd place, which provided him with Korn Ferry Tour (formerly Web.com Tour) status. He played on the Web.com Tour for two seasons in 2013 and 2014, with his best finish being a tie for second place at the 2013 Mexico Championship.
2.2. PGA Tour and Other Major Tour Activities
Since 2015, Kim Meen-whee has predominantly played on the PGA Tour, establishing himself among the top professional golfers. During his time on the PGA Tour, he has recorded several notable performances, including two runner-up finishes in 2017. He was a runner-up at the FedEx St. Jude Classic and later lost in a playoff at the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, which was an early season event on the 2018 PGA Tour. Beyond the PGA Tour, Kim also secured a runner-up finish at the Korea Open. In 2018, he achieved his second career win on the Korean Tour at the Descente Korea Munsingwear Matchplay.
2.3. Professional Wins
Kim Meen-whee has recorded two official professional wins on the Korean Tour.
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 14, 2012 | Shinhan Donghae Open | -4 (73-71-68-72=284) | Playoff | Kevin Na |
| 2 | June 10, 2018 | Descente Korea Munsingwear Matchplay | 1 up | 현정협Hyun Jeong-hyeobKorean | |
2.4. Playoff Record
Kim Meen-whee has participated in playoffs on both the Korean Tour and the PGA Tour.
Korean Tour playoff record (1-0)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2012 | Shinhan Donghae Open | Kevin Na | Won with par on first extra hole |
PGA Tour playoff record (0-1)
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponents | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017 | Shriners Hospitals for Children Open | Patrick Cantlay, Alex Čejka | Cantlay won with par on second extra hole |
2.5. Major Championship Results
Kim Meen-whee has competed in several major golf championships throughout his career.
| Tournament | 2017 | 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | ||
| U.S. Open | T50 | |
| The Open Championship | ||
| PGA Championship | CUT |
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" = tied
2.6. Team Appearances
Kim Meen-whee has also represented South Korea in team competitions as an amateur.
- Eisenhower Trophy (representing South Korea): 2010
3. Awards and Honors
Kim Meen-whee's successful start to his professional career was recognized with the Korean Tour Rookie of the Year award in 2012.