Kris Kim is an up-and-coming teenage golf prodigy who is currently making a name for himself, find out more below about the age 16 golfer and his career
The English golf prodigy could very well become the Luke Littler of golf as he prepares to make his PGA Tour debut.
Who is junior golfer Kris Kim, bio, age, family, parents, golf career and nationality
16-year-old English amateur Kris Kim will make his @PGATour debut at next week’s @cjbyronnelson event at TPC Craig Ranch in Texas. Kris has NIL sponsorships with the title sponsor CJ Group as well as @UAGolf and @TaylorMadeGolf.#THECJCUPByronNelson #PGATour pic.twitter.com/qXingT67tH
— Amateur Golf Bible (@GolfBible) April 24, 2024
Ahead of the competition, the teenager shared that his first aim is to make the cut before focusing on anything.
Kris Kim bio and age
Kris Kim is an upcoming English golf player who is all set to make his PGA tour debut on Thursday, May 2, 2024, as one of 144 competitors. Notably, he started out playing golf at a young age and is a huge Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy fan. Kris is currently just 16 years old and will be sitting his GCSE exams in the coming weeks, marking his final year in high school. While talking about his preparations for the exam, he stated:
I am trying to revise, I promise! But it’s quite tough. My schedule is quite busy right now.”
Kris Kim parents
Kim is the son of pioneering golfer Ji-Hyun Suh, who is also his coach. Ji-Hyun Suh famously paved the way for other South Korean stars in golf with her performances on the LPGA Tour during the 1990s.
Ji-Hyun Suh started playing golf at just 13-years-old and went professional in 1998. After earning a conditional card to the US, she played there for two years before returning to Japan and playing on the tour there for several years. After retiring from the sport in 2002, she moved to the UK, became a golf teacher and made a return to competition in 2014 after spending 12 years away.
Ahead of his upcoming task, Kim shared:
I’ll definitely ask my mum for advice. It is going to be a very different environment and you don’t know how you will respond to it. She’ll help me deal with it.
She’s my coach and we talk about everything from dealing with nerves, taking one shot at a time, leaving bad shots behind and keeping it simple right through to course strategy.”
Kris Kim golf career
Kim gained worldwide prominence just last year after going unbeaten at the Junior Ryder Cup. The youngster claimed three and a half points as Team Europe overpowered Team USA by 20.5 to 9.5. During the competition, one of his points came from a win over American teen Miles Russell, 15. Miles just recently made the cut and placed 20th at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Suncoast Classic in Florida, becoming the youngest player to achieve a top-25 finish in over 40 years.
Kim has also won at the Boys’ Amateur Championship, European Boys’ Individual Championship, and the McGregor Trophy in 2023 in the past. Owing to his talents, CJ Group, which personally sponsor Kim, have now given the teenager an exemption into the CJ Cup Bryon Nelson, which takes place in Dallas, Texas, starting Thursday. He will be making his PGA Tour debut with his ex-golfer mom, Ji-Hyun Suh, serving as his coach.
While speaking about the upcoming competition, Kris Kim added:
I’m so excited to tee it up in Texas. It’s what you work towards all the time and it’s an amazing opportunity. I can’t wait to play in front of big crowds again. I’ve never hit the ball as far as I did at the Ryder Cup. The adrenalin rush makes golf so much fun.”