1. Overview
Mi-Hyun Kim (김미현Gim Mi-hyeonKorean), born on January 13, 1977, is a former professional golfer from South Korea. She embarked on her professional career in 1996 and quickly rose to prominence, achieving 11 victories on the LPGA of Korea Tour (KLPGA) between 1996 and 2000. In 1999, she transitioned to the LPGA Tour in the United States, where she was recognized as the LPGA Rookie of the Year. Throughout her LPGA Tour career, she secured eight victories, with her best performance in a major championship being a second-place finish at the 2001 Women's British Open. Kim is widely regarded as a pioneering figure among South Korean women golfers, notably as one of the "Seoul Sisters" who inspired a significant surge of Korean talent on the international golf scene.
2. Early Life and Background
Mi-Hyun Kim's early life in Incheon laid the foundation for her distinctive career, characterized by her unique physical stature and the affectionate nicknames it inspired.
2.1. Childhood and Education
Kim was born on January 13, 1977, in Incheon, South Korea. She pursued her higher education at Sungkyunkwan University. Her religious affiliation is Protestantism.
2.2. Nicknames and Physical Characteristics
Standing at 61 in (154 cm), Kim received the well-known nickname "Peanut" (땅콩TtangkkongKorean) due to her relatively small stature. As her career progressed and she achieved significant success despite her physical size, she earned the additional moniker "Super Peanut" (슈퍼땅콩Syupeo TtangkkongKorean). Among her fellow LPGA golfers, she was affectionately known as "Kimmie." Her distinctive golf swing was characterized by an unusually long backswing, though it became shorter in her later career years.
3. Professional Career
Mi-Hyun Kim's professional golf career spanned both the domestic KLPGA Tour and the international LPGA Tour, where she achieved significant success and established herself as a formidable competitor.
3.1. Early Career and KLPGA
Mi-Hyun Kim turned professional in 1996. Before joining the LPGA Tour, she dominated the LPGA of Korea Tour (KLPGA), securing 13 victories. Among these, two wins were achieved while she was still an amateur, and 11 were professional titles between 1996 and 2000. Her KLPGA major tournament victories include the 1995 Fursys Cup Korea Women's Open (as an amateur) and the 1996 LG Fashion Cup Korea Women's Open.
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 Apr 1994 | Tomboy Women's Open (as an amateur) | 72-74-72=218 | +2 | 2 strokes | Kang Soo-yun (amateur) |
| 2 | 15 Jul 1995 | Fursys Cup Korea Women's Open (as an amateur) | 71-71-68=210 | -6 | 2 strokes | Se Ri Pak (amateur) |
| 3 | 29 Jun 1996 | Midopa Women's Open | 69-69=138 | -6 | 2 strokes | Song Chae-eun Ha Nan-kyung |
| 4 | 18 Aug 1996 | Korea Oil Corporation Invitational | 67-74-65=206 | -10 | 2 strokes | Se Ri Pak |
| 5 | 25 Oct 1996 | LG Fashion Cup Korea Women's Open | 70-74-72=216 | E | 2 strokes | Se Ri Pak |
| 6 | 31 Aug 1997 | Korea Oil Corporation Invitational | 71-74-68=213 | -3 | 1 stroke | Il Mi Chung |
| 7 | 7 Sep 1997 | FILA Women's Open | 73-68-70=211 | -10 | 1 stroke | Gloria Park (amateur) |
| 8 | 13 Sep 1997 | Lacoste SBS Champions | 73-75-74=222 | +6 | 3 strokes | Han Ji-yeon Seo A-ram |
| 9 | 9 May 1998 | Carnation Women's Open | 70-73-67=210 | -6 | 7 strokes | Jeong Jang (amateur) |
| 10 | 11 Sep 1998 | SBS Champions | 72-74-74=220 | +4 | Playoff | Il Mi Chung |
| 11 | 1 Nov 1998 | KLPGA Championship | 72-76-71=219 | +3 | 2 strokes | Seo Ji-hyun |
| 12 | 29 Oct 2000 | Sports Seoul Hyundai Securities Women's Open | 71-68-68=207 | -9 | 4 strokes | Laura Davies |
| 13 | 3 Dec 2000 | Paradise Women's Open | 71-73-63=207 | -9 | 10 strokes | Il Mi Chung |
Tournaments in bold denote major tournaments in KLPGA.
3.2. LPGA Tour Career
Kim joined the LPGA Tour in 1999, making a significant impact early in her American career.
3.2.1. Rookie of the Year
In her debut year on the LPGA Tour in 1999, Mi-Hyun Kim was honored with the LPGA Rookie of the Year award, a testament to her immediate success and strong performance against established players.
3.2.2. LPGA Tour Wins
Mi-Hyun Kim achieved eight victories on the LPGA Tour throughout her career.
| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 Sep 1999 | State Farm Rail Classic | -12 (66-68-70=204) | 1 stroke | Janice Moodie Pearl Sinn |
| 2 | 10 Oct 1999 | First Union Betsy King Classic | -8 (68-72-70-70=280) | 1 stroke | Beth Daniel Helen Dobson Jenny Lidback |
| 3 | 24 Sep 2000 | Safeway LPGA Golf Championship | -1 (70-73-72=215) | Playoff | Jeong Jang |
| 4 | 21 Jul 2002 | Giant Eagle LPGA Classic | -14 (65-68-69=202) | 1 stroke | Kelly Robbins |
| 5 | 4 Aug 2002 | Wendy's Championship for Children | -8 (68-67-73=208) | 1 stroke | Hee-Won Han |
| 6 | 30 Apr 2006 | Ginn Clubs & Resorts Open | -12 (70-66-69-71=276) | 2 strokes | Lorena Ochoa Karrie Webb |
| 7 | 16 Jul 2006 | Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic | -18 (68-66-67-65=266) | Playoff | Natalie Gulbis |
| 8 | 6 May 2007 | SemGroup Championship | -3 (71-68-71=210) | Playoff | Juli Inkster |
3.2.3. LPGA Tour Playoff Record
Mi-Hyun Kim's LPGA Tour playoff record stands at 3 wins and 3 losses.
| No. | Year | Tournament | Opponent(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2000 | Safeway LPGA Golf Championship | Jeong Jang | Won with par on second extra hole |
| 2 | 2000 | New Albany Golf Classic | Lorie Kane | Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
| 3 | 2001 | The Office Depot | Annika Sörenstam | Lost to par on first extra hole |
| 4 | 2001 | Kathy Ireland Championship | Rosie Jones | Lost to birdie on first extra hole |
| 5 | 2006 | Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic | Natalie Gulbis | Won with birdie on third extra hole |
| 6 | 2007 | SemGroup Championship | Juli Inkster | Won with par on first extra hole |
3.3. Major Championship Performances
Kim consistently participated in major championships throughout her career, achieving notable finishes.
3.3.1. Performance Summary
Mi-Hyun Kim's best finish in a major championship was a second-place at the 2001 Women's British Open, where she was runner-up to Se Ri Pak. She also achieved several top-10 finishes across the five major tournaments she competed in. The Women's British Open replaced the du Maurier Classic as an LPGA major in 2001.
| Tournament | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kraft Nabisco Championship | T47 | T15 | T21 | T57 | 7 | T5 | T42 | T30 | T6 | T48 | T56 | T33 | ||
| LPGA Championship | T26 | T12 | 8 | T33 | T30 | T30 | T7 | T3 | T15 | T10 | CUT | T42 | T43 | |
| U.S. Women's Open | CUT | T4 | T26 | T22 | T30 | T16 | T31 | T41 | T8 | T6 | CUT | |||
| du Maurier Classic | T6 | T33 | ||||||||||||
| Women's British Open | 2 | T61 | CUT | CUT | CUT | CUT | CUT | T24 | T31 | CUT |
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" tied
Summary of Major Championship Performances:
| Tournament | Wins | 2nd | 3rd | Top-5 | Top-10 | Top-25 | Events | Cuts made |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kraft Nabisco Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 12 |
| LPGA Championship | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 12 |
| U.S. Women's Open | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 9 |
| du Maurier Classic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Women's British Open | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 4 |
| Totals | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 19 | 48 | 39 |
3.4. Team Appearances
As an amateur, Mi-Hyun Kim represented South Korea in the 1994 Espirito Santo Trophy team competition.
4. Personal Life
Mi-Hyun Kim's personal life included a marriage to an Olympic athlete and the birth of her son, followed by a divorce.
4.1. Marriage and Family
In December 2008, Mi-Hyun Kim married Lee Won-hee, a former Olympic gold medalist in judo. At the time of their marriage, Lee Won-hee was teaching judo at a university in South Korea. In 2009, the couple welcomed their son, Ye Sung Lee, who was born in Orlando, Florida.
4.2. Divorce
The couple divorced in 2012. Although rumors of their divorce surfaced around 2012, Kim later appeared on television with her son in 2015, which temporarily dispelled some speculation. However, the divorce was confirmed in 2018 with news of Lee Won-hee's remarriage, though the exact timing of their separation remained private. Mi-Hyun Kim maintains custody of their son.
5. Post-Retirement Activities
After retiring from professional golf, Mi-Hyun Kim transitioned into various roles, including media work and golf instruction.
5.1. Broadcasting and Commentary
Following her retirement, Kim became a golf commentator and analyst. She served as a golf commentator for KBS during both the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2020 Summer Olympics. Additionally, she took on the role of main MC for "Golf King," a sports entertainment program on TV Chosun.
5.2. Golf Instruction
Mi-Hyun Kim currently teaches golf in South Korea. Her father established a golf teaching and practice facility named the Mi-Hyun Kim Golf World.
6. Charitable Activities
Mi-Hyun Kim has demonstrated significant social responsibility through her philanthropic efforts, notably a substantial donation to a community affected by a natural disaster.
In May 2007, following her victory at the SemGroup Championship, Mi-Hyun Kim donated 100.00 K USD of her 210.00 K USD prize money to the victims of a severe tornado that struck Greensburg, Kansas. This tornado occurred during the SemGroup tournament itself. Despite having no prior connection to Greensburg or its residents, Kim felt compelled to help. She stated, "Honestly, I made a lot of money in the United States on the LPGA Tour. Most of time, I get the money here and donate to South Korea. But, I want to help people here, too. The win was a surprise for me and I think God gave it to me like a special present or he is using me like, 'okay, I give you this, but after that you give to help the people.'"
A year later, on the eve of the 2008 SemGroup Championship, the president of the United Way of the Plains in Wichita, Kansas, publicly thanked Kim. They announced that the publicity surrounding her initial donation had inspired further contributions totaling 1.20 M USD. This additional funding was utilized to construct 25 homes for low- and moderate-income individuals who had been displaced by the tornado, underscoring the lasting positive impact of Kim's generosity.
7. Legacy and Influence
Mi-Hyun Kim's career left a significant and lasting impact on the sport of golf, particularly in South Korea, where she is recognized as a key figure in the rise of women's golf.
7.1. "Seoul Sisters"
Mi-Hyun Kim is recognized as one of the "Seoul Sisters", an influential group of pioneering South Korean female golfers. Alongside Se Ri Pak, Grace Park, and Hee-Won Han, she was instrumental in inspiring and paving the way for a remarkable surge of South Korean women golfers on the LPGA Tour. Their collective success and presence on the international stage transformed the landscape of women's professional golf.
7.2. Impact on Korean Golf
Kim's achievements and presence on the LPGA Tour significantly contributed to the growth, popularity, and development of women's golf in South Korea. Her success, along with that of the other "Seoul Sisters," motivated a new generation of Korean golfers, fostering a strong pipeline of talent that continues to excel on the global stage. Her pioneering spirit helped establish South Korea as a dominant force in women's professional golf.