Kris Kim: Junior Ryder Cup star becomes the youngest player to make a PGA Tour cut since 2015

Kris Kim starred at the 2023 Junior Ryder Cup for Team Europe.

Teenage sensation Kris Kim took a GCSE revision break to put his game to the test against the world’s best, and with three rounds under par – it held up pretty well!

And who would have blamed Kim for being just a little overawed at the occasion, competing in the same field as Major winners Jason Day and Jordan Spieth? It was a huge step up, but one the teenager was relishing after accepting an invitational spot.

“My first aim is to make the cut and then see what happens. I’m one of 144 competitors and we’ve all got a chance. Whatever happens, it’s going to be super helpful for my future because I’ll gain so much experience. I know I’m still young and pretty much every week I learn a lesson, but this week is going to be a lot bigger!”

Rounds of 68 and 67 later and Kris Kim had made the cut with a shot to spare. Mission accomplished. “I’m happy, I can’t wait to get started again tomorrow, said Kim. “I’ve enjoyed it so much the last couple of days and being here two more days makes it so much sweeter.”

The English prodigy was unveiled in May as the first amateur golfer to be sponsored by the CJ Group, joining a world-class stable of professional golfers that includes Sungjae Im, Si Woo Kim, Byeong Hun An, and KH Lee – a two-time winner of the CJ Cup.

In a 2023 to remember, Kim notched up victories in the Boys’ Amateur Championship, European Boys’ Individual Championship, and the McGregor Trophy. The highlight, however, was a stunning undefeated performance on his debut in the Junior Ryder Cup that saw him claim three wins and a half in Europe’s first victory in the match since 2006.

His 5&4 routing of American rising star Miles Russell, who himself finished T20 at the recent Korn Ferry Tour’s Suncoast Classic in Florida was arguably his biggest statement of a breakthrough season.

It didn’t go unnoticed by the game’s powerhouse brands either. Kim’s exploits saw him become the first European amateur to be signed to an NIL (Named Image and Likeness) contract by Under Armour and the first British amateur to sign an NIL deal with TaylorMade.

On his equipment deal, Kim said: “I’m a huge Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy fan so when they signed for TaylorMade I desperately wanted to use their clubs too. I’ve been doing so for three years and signing for them is very exciting.

“TaylorMade has a high pedigree and eye for developing future stars, helping them to become PGA Tour and major championship winners. I am looking forward to working with the team and reaching the goals I have set out for my career.”

Sporting a pair of UA’s new Driver Pro shoes, Kim will follow in the footsteps of his coach and mother, Ji-Hyun Suh who was one of the first Korean pioneers competing on the LPGA in the 1990s and inspired the wave of success that has been maintained ever since across the men’s and women’s professional games.

“I’ll definitely ask my mum for advice, said Kim.

“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.

Like every other teenager around the country, Kim is preparing to sit his GCSE exams, and few will blame him for being a little distracted.

“I am trying to revise, I promise, but it’s quite tough!” he said with a laugh. “My schedule is quite busy right now.”

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About the author

Ross Tugwood

Senior Digital Writer

Ross Tugwood is a golf equipment writer for todays-golfer.com, specializing in data, analytics, science, and innovation.

Ross is passionate about optimizing sports performance and has a decade of experience working with professional athletes and coaches for British Athletics, the UK Sports Institute, and Team GB.

He has post-graduate degrees in Performance Analysis and Sports Journalism, enabling him to critically analyze and review the latest golf equipment and technology to help you make better-informed buying decisions.