
Michael Sangwon Kim, born in Seoul, South Korea, is an American professional golfer with one PGA Tour victory. Kim moved to the United States with his family at the age of seven and settled in San Diego, California. He attended the University of California, Berkeley, and was the first Cal men's golfer to win national player of the year honours in 2013. Kim has faced setbacks in his career, including a tough 2019 season, but he has shown resilience and determination to return to the PGA Tour. He currently resides in Houston, Texas, and plays from Dallas.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Michael Sangwon Kim |
| Date of Birth | July 14, 1993 |
| Birthplace | Seoul, South Korea |
| Parents | Sun and Yun Kim |
| Siblings | Richard Kim (elder brother) |
| Age when moved to the US | 7 |
| Moved to the US in | Del Mar, California |
| High School | Torrey Pines High School |
| College | University of California, Berkeley |
| Teammate in College | Max Homa |
| Height | 5'11" |
| Weight | 165 lbs |
| Age | 32 |
| Career Earnings | $11,206,251 |
| Residence | Houston, Texas |
| Plays From | Dallas, Texas |
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What You'll Learn

Michael Kim was born in Seoul, South Korea
Michael Kim, the professional golfer with one PGA Tour victory, was born in Seoul, South Korea. Kim was born on July 14, 1993, to South Korean parents, Sun and Yun Kim. At the age of seven, Kim and his family relocated to the United States, settling in the Del Mar neighbourhood of San Diego, California.
Kim attended Torrey Pines High School in San Diego, where he frequently played on the Torrey Pines North Course. He went on to attend the University of California, Berkeley, where he played golf alongside future PGA star Max Homa. During his time at Berkeley, Kim excelled in golf, becoming the first Cal men's golfer to win national player of the year honours in 2013. He was named the Division I recipient of the Jack Nicklaus Award and also claimed the Haskins Award, given to the national player of the year in men's college golf.
In addition to his collegiate success, Kim qualified for the 2013 U.S. Open, where he finished tied for 17th, earning low amateur honours. He turned pro in 2013 or 2014 and has since established himself on the PGA Tour, notching notable achievements such as winning the 2018 John Deere Classic by a record-breaking eight-shot margin.
While Michael Kim currently resides in Houston, Texas, and plays golf from Dallas, his birth city of Seoul, South Korea, remains an integral part of his cultural background and identity.
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He moved to San Diego, California, at age seven
Michael Kim was born in Seoul, South Korea, where he lived with his parents, Sun and Yun Kim, and his older brother, Richard, until he was seven years old. At the age of seven, Kim moved to San Diego, California, in the United States, where he grew up in the Del Mar neighbourhood.
Kim's family settled in San Diego, and he completed his schooling at Torrey Pines High School, where he frequently played Torrey Pines' North Course. He was introduced to golf at a very young age by his father, who is an electronics salesman. Kim hit his first swing as a kid in California after his father introduced him and his older brother to the sport.
Kim's love for sports started at a young age, and he has shared that he could watch Sports Center all day. This passion for sports, combined with his father's influence, likely contributed to his early introduction to golf.
After completing his high school education in San Diego, Kim went on to attend the University of California, Berkeley, where he continued to pursue his passion for golf. His college years were impressive, as he played alongside future PGA star Max Homa and achieved notable accolades in the golf community.
Kim's move to San Diego, California, at the age of seven, marked a significant step in his life and set the foundation for his future success in the sport of golf.
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Kim studied at the University of California, Berkeley
Michael Sangwon Kim is an American professional golfer born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in San Diego, California. Kim studied at the University of California, Berkeley, where he excelled at golf and was named the Pac-12 Men's Golfer of the Month in April 2013. He went on to become the first Cal men's golfer to win national player of the year honours when he received the 2013 Jack Nicklaus Award from the Golf Coaches Association of America. In addition to his golfing achievements, Kim was also recognised as the national player of the year in men's college golf by winning the Haskins Award in June 2013.
Kim's time at the University of California, Berkeley, was instrumental in his golfing career. While at Berkeley, he was teammates with Max Homa, and they likely trained and competed together. The university provided Kim with the resources and support to develop his golfing skills and gain national recognition. It is also likely that he received coaching and mentorship from experienced golf staff at the university, helping him to refine his technique and strategy.
The University of California, Berkeley, has a reputation for sporting excellence and producing successful athletes. Kim's achievements in golf while studying at Berkeley contribute to this legacy. The university's golf programme offers a range of resources, including coaching, facilities, and competition opportunities, that foster the development of talented golfers like Kim. The university's golf team likely provided him with a platform to showcase his talent and gain exposure within the golfing community.
Kim's success at Berkeley led to him qualifying for the 2013 U.S. Open by being a co-medalist at his sectional qualifier. This major championship would have provided Kim with valuable experience competing against some of the best golfers in the world. His performance at Berkeley, combined with his participation in prestigious tournaments like the U.S. Open, likely contributed to his overall development as a golfer and helped attract the attention of sponsors and golfing organisations.
The University of California, Berkeley, is known for its academic and research excellence, and it is possible that Kim benefited from the university's broader educational environment as well. The university's academic programmes may have provided Kim with a well-rounded education and transferable skills that complemented his golfing talents. Balancing academic pursuits with athletic excellence can foster discipline, time management, and critical thinking skills that benefit athletes in their sporting careers and beyond.
While the specific details of Kim's academic pursuits at Berkeley are not widely available, it is clear that his time at the university played a pivotal role in his golfing career. The recognition and honours he received while studying there, combined with the university's athletic resources and reputation, helped launch his professional golfing career.
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He has one PGA Tour victory
Michael Kim, an American professional golfer, has one PGA Tour victory. He was born in Seoul, South Korea, but was raised in San Diego, California, and attended the University of California, Berkeley. Kim became a full-time member of the PGA Tour in 2016, and won his first and only PGA Tour event at the 2018 John Deere Classic by eight shots, setting the tournament scoring record. In the process, he earned the final invitation to the 2018 Open Championship.
Kim's road to his first PGA Tour victory began in 2015 when he finished 13th on the money list in the Web.com Tour, earning him a full-time membership to the PGA Tour for 2016. In the 2018 John Deere Classic, Kim claimed the title by a sizeable margin of eight shots, solidifying his place in the record books for that particular tournament. This victory also served as his invitation to the 2018 Open Championship, marking a significant milestone in his career.
However, following his PGA Tour victory in 2018, Kim's performance in subsequent years saw him miss a significant number of cuts. In 2019, he missed 19 cuts in 20 events on the PGA Tour and fell to 502nd in the Official World Golf Ranking as of August 26, 2019. The following season, in 2020-21, Kim made only nine cuts in thirty starts and finished 214th in the 2021 FedEx Cup, resulting in the loss of his full PGA Tour Card.
Despite these setbacks, Kim demonstrated resilience by returning to the Korn Ferry Tour in 2021-22 and successfully regaining his PGA Tour card for the 2022-23 season. This comeback highlights his determination to return to the PGA Tour and pursue further victories.
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The golfer currently resides in Houston, Texas
The golfer Michael Kim was born in Seoul, South Korea, but his family moved to the United States when he was seven years old. They settled in San Diego, California, where Kim attended Torrey Pines High School. After graduating, Kim went on to attend the University of California, Berkeley, where he played golf alongside future PGA star Max Homa.
Kim's college years were impressive, and he earned several notable accolades, including being named Pac-12 Men's Golfer of the Month in April 2013 and becoming the first Cal men's golfer to win national player of the year honours. He also qualified for the 2013 U.S. Open, where he finished tied for 17th place.
Following his successful college career, Kim turned pro in 2013 and joined the PGA Tour. He currently resides in Houston, Texas, and plays out of Dallas, Texas. Kim has had a rollercoaster career on the PGA Tour, with some notable highs and lows. In 2018, he won his first PGA Tour event at the John Deere Classic, but the following year, he struggled and fell in the world rankings.
Despite the setbacks, Kim persevered and regained his spot on the PGA Tour for the 2022-2023 season. He has had some recent success, including a T2 finish at the 2025 WM Phoenix Open.
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Frequently asked questions
Michael Kim was born in Seoul, South Korea, and moved to the United States at the age of seven.
Michael Kim and his family settled in Del Mar, San Diego, California, where he attended Torrey Pines High School.
Michael Kim currently resides in Houston, Texas, and plays golf from Dallas, Texas.
Michael Kim attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he played golf alongside future PGA star Max Homa.





























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