Tom Kim, whose Korean name is Kim Joo-hyung, is a South Korean professional golfer who is one of the most exciting young stars on the PGA Tour. A multiple-time winner on golf’s biggest tour, he burst onto the international scene as a teenager and quickly established himself as a rising force in the game, known for his prodigious talent, his fiery competitiveness and his charismatic, crowd-pleasing personality. A four-time PGA Tour champion who turned professional at a young age, he capped a landmark period of his career in 2026 by winning an Asian Games gold medal, a victory that also secured him an exemption from his country’s mandatory military service.
Tom Kim Biography, Wiki
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Kim Joo-hyung |
| Known As | Tom Kim |
| Date of Birth | 21 June 2002 |
| Age (2026) | 24 years |
| Birthplace | Seoul, South Korea |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
| Turned Professional | 2018 |
| Tours | PGA Tour; DP World Tour (European Tour) |
| PGA Tour Wins | 4 |
| Notable | Asian Games gold medallist (2026) |
Tom Kim Details
| Area | Detail |
| Background | The son of a professional golfer |
| Early career | Starred on the Asian and Korean Tours |
| PGA Tour | A four-time PGA Tour winner |
| Youngest | The youngest three-time PGA Tour winner since Tiger Woods |
| Team golf | A standout at the Presidents Cup |
| 2026 | Won Asian Games gold and a military exemption |
Tom Kim Events
| Year | Event |
| 21 June 2002 | Born in Seoul, South Korea |
| 2018 | Turned professional at a young age |
| 2021 | Won the Korean Tour Order of Merit |
| 2022 | Won his first PGA Tour titles |
| 2022 | Starred on his Presidents Cup debut |
| July 2026 | Won the Genesis Scottish Open |
| October 2026 | Won Asian Games gold and a military exemption |
Tom Kim Early Life
Tom Kim was born Kim Joo-hyung on 21 June 2002 in Seoul, South Korea. He was introduced to golf at a young age by his father, Kim Chang-ik, himself a professional golfer who had competed on professional tours before becoming a teaching professional. Owing to his father’s profession, the family spent time in various countries during his upbringing, giving him an international outlook and fluency in English. He acquired the nickname “Tom” as a child, derived from the character Thomas the Tank Engine, and it stuck as his professional name. His prodigious talent was evident early, and he committed himself to a career in golf.
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Tom Kim Golf Career
Tom Kim’s Rise in Asia
Tom Kim turned professional as a teenager, at the age of sixteen, and he began his career on the developmental and regional tours in Asia. He found success quickly, winning on circuits including the Philippine and Asian tours, and he established himself as one of the region’s brightest young talents. In 2021 he enjoyed a standout year on the Korean Tour, winning the Order of Merit as its leading money-winner and being named its Player of the Year, and he followed this with further success on the Asian Tour, rapidly climbing the professional ranks and setting his sights on the world’s biggest stage.
Tom Kim’s PGA Tour Breakthrough
Tom Kim made a sensational breakthrough on the PGA Tour as a young player. He won his first PGA Tour title at the 2022 Wyndham Championship, and he went on to win the Shriners Children’s Open twice, in 2022 and 2023. His second Shriners victory made him the youngest player to win three times on the PGA Tour since the legendary Tiger Woods in 1997, a remarkable achievement that underlined his extraordinary potential. These early wins, achieved while still a teenager and in his early twenties, confirmed his status as one of the most exciting young talents in world golf.
Tom Kim’s Continued Success
Tom Kim continued to build an impressive career on the PGA Tour and in international golf, competing regularly against the best players in the world and contending in major championships and elite events. In 2026 he added to his list of titles by winning the Genesis Scottish Open, a prestigious event co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, for the fourth PGA Tour title of his career. He also recorded strong finishes in major championships and the sport’s biggest tournaments, cementing his place among the game’s leading players.
Tom Kim at the Presidents Cup
Tom Kim has been a standout performer in team golf, particularly at the Presidents Cup, where he represents the International Team against the United States. He made a memorable debut at the 2022 Presidents Cup, where his passion, energy and clutch performances made him a fan favourite and a star of the event, and he continued to be one of the International Team’s key players in subsequent editions. His emotional, galvanising style of play has made him one of the most compelling figures in team competition, bringing excitement and spirit to the contest.
Tom Kim’s Asian Games Gold and Military Exemption
Tom Kim achieved one of the most significant victories of his career at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. He won the men’s individual (singles) gold medal, dominating the field and closing with a strong final round to win by three strokes. The victory carried special significance beyond the medal itself, as, under South Korean rules, an Asian Games gold medal grants an exemption from the country’s mandatory military service, which most able-bodied men must complete. The win therefore removed the prospect of a lengthy interruption to his professional career, a career-altering outcome that he had travelled to Japan directly after the Presidents Cup to pursue.
Tom Kim’s Playing Style
Tom Kim is known as a talented, aggressive and fiercely competitive golfer with a complete and well-rounded game. He combines strong ball-striking with a sharp short game and a fearless, attacking approach, and he is particularly renowned for his mental toughness and his ability to perform in high-pressure situations. Off the technical side, he is celebrated for his charismatic, emotional and crowd-engaging personality, which has made him one of the sport’s most popular young players. His blend of skill, passion and composure has established him as a formidable competitor.
Tom Kim Personal Life
Tom Kim is a young South Korean athlete who, owing to his upbringing travelling with his golf-professional father, spent time in several countries and is comfortable on the global stage. He is based in the United States, in Texas, for his career on the PGA Tour. Known for his upbeat, friendly and expressive personality, which has endeared him to fans around the world, he has generally kept his personal life relatively private, focusing his public identity on his golf. His close relationship with his family, and the influence of his father in his golfing development, have been important parts of his story.
Tom Kim Height and Physical Profile
Tom Kim stands around 6 feet, or about 1.83 metres, tall. While his public identity rests on his golfing ability and his personality rather than on physical attributes, his athleticism and his well-rounded technique are central to his success as one of the world’s leading young golfers.
Tom Kim Net Worth and Earnings
Tom Kim has earned substantial income over his career through his success on the PGA Tour, including significant prize money from his victories and strong finishes, as well as endorsement deals as one of the sport’s rising stars, including his association with a major golf-equipment brand. A precise, reliably verified net-worth figure is not firmly established in the public record, and this profile does not put one forward, as figures for athletes vary. His official career earnings on the PGA Tour run into the tens of millions of dollars. Any net-worth estimates should be treated with caution.
| Source | Detail |
| PGA Tour earnings | Tens of millions of dollars in official career prize money |
| Net worth | Not reliably documented (treat estimates with caution) |
| Main income sources | His tournament winnings and endorsements |
Tom Kim Social Media
Tom Kim maintains an active and popular presence on social media, where he shares his golf career, his tournaments and his engaging personality with a large global following of fans.
| Platform | Handle | Notes |
| Under his own name | Golf and personal content | |
| Public information | The PGA Tour and golf media | How news about him is reported |
Tom Kim Controversies
No significant off-field controversy involving Tom Kim surfaced in the material examined for this profile. Coverage of him has focused overwhelmingly on his golf, his PGA Tour wins, his exciting Presidents Cup performances and his charismatic personality, and he is widely regarded as one of the most popular and promising young players in the game.
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Lesser Known Facts About Tom Kim
- His Korean name is Kim Joo-hyung.
- He was born in Seoul, South Korea, in 2002.
- His nickname “Tom” comes from Thomas the Tank Engine.
- He is the son of a professional golfer.
- He turned professional at the age of sixteen.
- He is the youngest three-time PGA Tour winner since Tiger Woods.
- He won Asian Games gold and a military exemption in 2026.
Tom Kim FAQ
Who is Tom Kim?
He is a South Korean professional golfer and a rising PGA Tour star, a four-time PGA Tour winner whose Korean name is Kim Joo-hyung.
How old is Tom Kim?
Born on 21 June 2002, he is 24 years old in 2026.
Why is Tom Kim called “Tom”?
He got the nickname “Tom” as a child, derived from the character Thomas the Tank Engine.
How many PGA Tour titles has Tom Kim won?
He has won four times on the PGA Tour, including the Wyndham Championship, two Shriners Children’s Opens and the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open.
What did Tom Kim win at the 2026 Asian Games?
He won the men’s individual gold medal, which also earned him an exemption from South Korea’s mandatory military service.
Why is Tom Kim’s Asian Games gold so important?
An Asian Games gold grants South Korean men an exemption from compulsory military service, removing a potential interruption to his career.
Where is Tom Kim from?
He was born in Seoul, South Korea, and is based in Texas, United States, for his PGA Tour career.
When did Tom Kim turn professional?
He turned professional in 2018, at the age of sixteen.
What is Tom Kim known for besides winning?
He is known for his fiery, passionate and charismatic personality, especially his memorable performances at the Presidents Cup.
Who introduced Tom Kim to golf?
His father, Kim Chang-ik, a professional golfer himself, introduced him to the game at a young age.
Sources
PGA Tour, Tom Kim (Player Profile), https://www.pgatour.com/player/55182/tom-kim
PGA Tour/AP, Tom Kim delivers gold for South Korea at Asian Games, https://www.pgatour.com/article/news/latest/2026/10/03/tom-kim-wins-gold-and-earns-military-exemption-at-the-asian-games
ESPN, Tom Kim (South Korea) Golf Profile, https://www.espn.com/golf/player/_/id/4602673/tom-kim
National Club Golfer, Who is Tom Kim?, https://www.nationalclubgolfer.com/tour/player-profiles/tom-kim/