1. Overview
Kim Si-woo (김시우Kim Si-wooKorean) is a prominent South Korean professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour. He achieved a significant milestone by becoming the youngest ever winner of The Players Championship in 2017 at the age of 21, solidifying his reputation as a formidable talent in the sport. His career is marked by several key victories on the PGA Tour and consistent performances in major tournaments.
2. Early Life and Education
Kim Si-woo's early life in Seoul, South Korea, laid the foundation for his golf career, which was further shaped by his formal education through university.
2.1. Birth and Early Life
Kim Si-woo was born on June 28, 1995, in Seoul, South Korea.
2.2. Education
He completed his secondary education at Yukmin Rural Middle School and Sinseong High School. Following high school, Kim pursued higher education at Yonsei University, where he majored in Physical education.
3. Amateur Career
Kim Si-woo demonstrated his golfing prowess early in his career as an amateur, earning recognition through national representation.
In 2011, he was selected as a member of the Korean Men's Golf National Team. His amateur career highlight includes representing South Korea at the 2012 Eisenhower Trophy (World Amateur Team Championship), where he competed against top amateur golfers from around the globe.
4. Professional Career
Kim Si-woo's professional career saw him quickly ascend through the ranks, from qualifying school to achieving significant victories on the Web.com Tour and the PGA Tour, including major championships and team appearances.
4.1. Early Professional Activities
Kim turned professional in 2012. At just 17 years, 5 months, and 6 days old, he finished tied for 20th at the 2012 PGA Tour Qualifying School, making him the youngest player ever to successfully navigate the PGA Tour's rigorous qualifying school. Due to PGA Tour regulations, he was unable to become a full member until he turned 18, which occurred midway through the 2013 season. In 2013, he made eight starts on the PGA Tour, missing the cut in seven tournaments and withdrawing from one. He also participated in seven Web.com Tour events in 2013, making four cuts.
In 2014, Kim continued his development on the Web.com Tour, making the cut in 15 of 19 events, including a notable third-place finish at the Cleveland Open. The following year, in July 2015, he secured his first Web.com Tour title at the Stonebrae Classic. This victory made him the second-youngest winner in Web.com Tour history, after Jason Day. Kim concluded the 2015 Web.com Tour season in tenth place on the money list, which earned him a coveted spot on the PGA Tour for the 2016 season.
4.2. PGA Tour Activities and Major Wins
Kim's debut PGA Tour victory came at the Wyndham Championship in 2016, where he tied the tournament scoring record. At 21 years old, he was the youngest winner on the tour that season. His second and arguably most significant PGA Tour win was the 2017 Players Championship. In a masterful performance, he held off challenges from Ian Poulter and Louis Oosthuizen, winning by three strokes with a bogey-free final round of 69. He became the second Korean golfer, after K. J. Choi in 2011, to win this prestigious event and, at 21, the youngest champion in its history. Prior to this win, Kim was ranked 73rd in the world, one of the lowest-ranked players to win The Players Championship; his victory propelled him to 28th in the world rankings.
In April 2018, Kim advanced to a sudden-death playoff at the RBC Heritage. Despite holding the sole lead for much of the final round, he struggled on the back nine, shooting three over par and missing crucial putts, which led to the playoff. He ultimately lost on the third extra hole when Satoshi Kodaira sank a long birdie putt on the par-3 17th.
Kim secured his third PGA Tour title in January 2021 at The American Express in La Quinta, California. He carded an impressive 8-under 64 in the final round to win by a single stroke over Patrick Cantlay. Later that year, in August, he was part of a six-way tie for the lead after 72 holes at the Wyndham Championship but lost in the playoff to Kevin Kisner.
His fourth PGA Tour victory came in January 2023 at the Sony Open in Hawaii. Kim birdied the final two holes to secure a one-shot victory over Hayden Buckley.
4.3. Results in Major Championships
Kim Si-woo has participated in all four major championships throughout his career, consistently making appearances and striving for top finishes.
4.3.1. Summary of Major Championship Results
Kim Si-woo's aggregated performance across the major championships is summarized below:
| Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Masters Tournament | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 7 |
| PGA Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2 |
| U.S. Open | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 |
| The Open Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 |
| Totals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 31 | 16 |
His most consecutive cuts made in majors is 3 (achieved twice), and he has not recorded a streak of top-10 finishes.
4.4. The Players Championship Results
Kim Si-woo's performance at The Players Championship is particularly notable due to his historic victory.
4.4.1. Players Championship Wins
Kim Si-woo's victory at The Players Championship:
| Year | Championship | 54 holes | Winning score | Margin | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | The Players Championship | 2 shot deficit | -10 (69-72-68-69=278) | 3 strokes | Louis Oosthuizen, Ian Poulter |
4.4.2. Players Championship Results Timeline
His chronological results at The Players Championship are as follows:
| Tournament | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Players Championship | T23 | 1 | T63 | T56 | C | T9 | WD | T27 | T6 |
Legend: Win (lime), Top 10 (yellow). "T" indicates a tie for a place. WD means withdrew. "C" means Cancelled after the first round due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
4.5. World Golf Championships Results
Kim Si-woo has competed in various events within the World Golf Championships (WGC) series, which feature elite fields from global tours.
| Tournament | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Championship | T72 | |||||||
| Match Play | T30 | R16 | T61 | NT1 | T56 | T18 | T17 | |
| Invitational | T50 | T10 | 65 | |||||
| Champions | T63 | T69 | NT1 | NT1 | NT1 | |||
1Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic. Legend: Top 10 (yellow). QF, R16, R32, R64 indicate the round in which the player lost in match play. "T" means tied. NT means no tournament. The Championship and Invitational events were discontinued from 2022, and the Champions event from 2023.
4.6. Team Appearances
Kim Si-woo has represented South Korea and the International team in major team golf competitions.
As an amateur, he represented South Korea at the 2012 Eisenhower Trophy. In his professional career, he has been a member of the International team for the Presidents Cup in 2017, 2022, and 2024. In the 2022 Presidents Cup, he recorded three wins and one loss in his matches. He also represented South Korea at the 2018 World Cup of Golf. In 2021, he was a member of the South Korean men's golf national team for the 32nd Tokyo Olympics.
5. Professional Wins
Kim Si-woo has accumulated five professional victories across the PGA Tour and Web.com Tour.
5.1. PGA Tour Wins
Kim Si-woo has secured four victories on the PGA Tour. His wins include one Players Championship title and three other PGA Tour events.
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 21, 2016 | Wyndham Championship | 68-60-64-67=259 | -21 | 5 strokes | Luke Donald |
| 2 | May 14, 2017 | The Players Championship | 69-72-68-69=278 | -10 | 3 strokes | Louis Oosthuizen, Ian Poulter |
| 3 | January 24, 2021 | The American Express | 66-68-67-64=265 | -23 | 1 stroke | Patrick Cantlay |
| 4 | January 15, 2023 | Sony Open in Hawaii | 67-67-64-64=262 | -18 | 1 stroke | Hayden Buckley |
Kim Si-woo holds a PGA Tour playoff record of 0-3:
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016 | Barbasol Championship | Aaron Baddeley | Lost to birdie on fourth extra hole |
| 2 | 2018 | RBC Heritage | Satoshi Kodaira | Lost to birdie on third extra hole |
| 3 | 2021 | Wyndham Championship | Branden Grace, Kevin Kisner, Kevin Na, Adam Scott, Roger Sloan | Kisner won with birdie on second extra hole |
5.2. Web.com Tour Wins
Kim Si-woo has one victory on the Web.com Tour.
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 19, 2015 | Stonebrae Classic | 66-65-69-68=268 | -12 | Playoff | Jamie Lovemark, Wes Roach |
He holds a Web.com Tour playoff record of 1-0:
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponents | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015 | Stonebrae Classic | Jamie Lovemark, Wes Roach | Won with birdie on first extra hole |
6. Sponsorships and Affiliations
Throughout his career, Kim Si-woo has formed affiliations with notable companies. He has been sponsored by CJ O Shopping and CJ Logistics, reflecting corporate support for his professional endeavors. His continued presence on major international tours also signifies his role as an ambassador for South Korean golf.
7. Personal Life
Kim Si-woo is married to fellow professional golfer Oh Ji-hyun. The couple tied the knot in 2022. He stands 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 182 lb (182 lb).
8. Assessment and Impact
Kim Si-woo's career highlights his consistent performance and significant achievements on the world stage of professional golf.
8.1. Major Achievements and Positive Assessment
Kim Si-woo is recognized for his talent and competitive spirit, evidenced by his four PGA Tour victories, including the prestigious Players Championship. His win at the Players Championship at 21 years old established him as the youngest champion in the tournament's history, a testament to his early maturity and skill in high-pressure situations. His ability to perform consistently on the PGA Tour, a highly competitive circuit, and to contribute to the International team in the Presidents Cup, underscores his status as a leading figure in contemporary golf. His accomplishments have not only elevated his personal career but also contributed to the growing international presence of South Korean golfers.