Tom Kim, whose real name is Kim Joo-hyung, was born in South Korea on June 21, 2002. In addition to his two victories on the Asian and Korean tours, he has three wins on the PGA Tour.
Kim began playing on the Philippine Golf Tour as a professional in May 2018. He began 2019 mostly performing on the Asian Development Tour. He won his maiden event six strokes clear of the field, the PGM ADT Championship, in Malaysia in late June. He earned two fourth-place results in Malaysia in March, followed by two runner-up finishes in Thailand.
At the age of seventeen years and 149 days, he became the second youngest professional winner on the Asian Tour when he won the Panasonic Open India in November. Smog caused the event to be shortened to 54 holes.
He placed fourth in the SMBC Singapore Open at the beginning of 2020. His strong performance earned him entry into the 2020 Open Championship, his first major championship, in the Open Qualifying Series event.
Kim became the first player to win twice on the tour before turning 21 since Tiger Woods in 1996, when he won the Shriners Children's Open in October 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kim is the second-youngest two-time PGA Tour winner behind Ralph Guldahl.
Kim joined Byron Nelson as the only golfer to have won the same PGA Tour tournament twice in a single season when he captured the Shriners Children's Open in October 2023.
Tom Kim’s parents
Tom Kim's parents are Changik Lee and Kwanjoo Kim.
Kim's father, Kim Chang-ik, is a professional golfer who played on the Buy.com Tour before turning to coaching.
Kim was born in Seoul, South Korea. Kim took home the titles in the W Express RVF Cup Amateur Championship and the Philippine Amateur Open Championship in 2018.
Tom's brother, Jaewook Kim, and mother, Kwanjoo Kim, a cook, are a close-knit family that has greatly influenced Tom's ascent to the top of the golf world.
Tom Kim’s father
The father of Tom Kim, Changik Lee, was a professional golfer at his peak. His name is not well recognized. Though not much is known about his golfing career, it is clear that his love of the game has inspired Tom's own commitment and ability.
Tom frequently acknowledges his father as his first and most important coach. The qualities of perseverance, dedication, and hard work that have become his characteristics on the golf course were instilled in him by his father.
Tom's father is clearly quite involved in his son's golf career, even if he would rather remain out of the spotlight. He continues to be Tom's go-to mentor and valued advisor behind closed doors, giving him insightful advice and practical tips to help him improve.
Tom Kim’s mother
Kwanjoo Kim, Tom Kim's mother, has been a consistent source of encouragement throughout his golfing career. While she may not be seen publicly, her love and encouragement have been important to Tom's success.
In the culinary world, Kwanjoo Kim is a well-known cook with a prosperous business, "Silang Garden."
Kwanjoo’s contribution to Tom’s golfing career has played a vital role in giving him the needed support in the highs and lows of the competitive golf industry. Kwanjoo is really proud of him, as he currently ranks 11th in the Official World Golf Rankings (OWGR).
Nationality of Tom Kim’s parents
There has been no official statement clarifying Tom Kim's parents' nationality. However, given that Tom Kim is South Korean, it is reasonable to assume that his parents are also South Korean.
FAQs on Tom Kim’s Parents
A. Tom Kim has three victories on the PGA Tour.
A. Tom Kim turned professional in May 2018 and began playing on the Philippine Golf Tour.
A. Tom Kim became the second youngest professional winner on the Asian Tour at the age of seventeen years and 149 days.
A. The last golfer to achieve this feat was Tiger Woods in 1996, making Kim the second-youngest two-time PGA Tour winner.
A. Tom Kim stands 6 feet or 183 cm, tall.