Tom Kim: Age, Wins, WITB & Military Service Explained

I've been watching Tom Kim since he burst onto the scene at the 2022 Wyndham Championship, and honestly? I didn't think he'd stick. Another young gun with a fast swing and a faster smile — seen a hundred of them. But Kim is different. He's got this compact, repeatable motion that just keeps producing, even when the putter goes cold.

After watching him grind through 17 missed cuts since the start of 2024, that Scottish Open win in July felt like watching a guy remember who he is.

Here's everything you need to know about Tom Kim — the wins, the struggles, the clubs, the military service question, and why he's one of the most interesting players on Tour right now.

Who Is Tom Kim? The Basics

Tom Kim was born Kim Joo-hyung on June 21, 2002, in Seoul, South Korea. That makes him 24 years old as of 2026. He stands 6 feet tall and plays right-handed.

He turned professional in 2018 at the age of 15 — which is absurdly young, even by golf standards. Most kids that age are worrying about high school exams. Kim was grinding on the Philippine Golf Tour.

He plays primarily on the PGA Tour and the European Tour, but he's also won on the Asian Tour and the Korean Tour. His career-high Official World Golf Ranking is #11, achieved in October 2023. As of August 2026, he sits at #33.

Here's the kicker: Kim never played college golf. He bypassed the entire US college system — the traditional route for most international players — and turned pro straight out of junior golf. "College scouts weren't coming after me," he said in a first-person account for Golf Digest. "My goal was always to turn pro, so I decided to do it early." Bold move. Paid off.

Key facts:

• Full name: Kim Joo-hyung

• Nickname: Tom Kim

• Born: June 21, 2002 (age 24)

• Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea

• Height: 6'0" (183 cm)

• Turned pro: 2018

• Current tours: PGA Tour, European Tour

• Career-high OWGR: #11 (October 2023)

• Current OWGR: #33 (August 2026)

Tom Kim's PGA Tour Wins and Career Highlights

Kim has four PGA Tour victories to his name. That puts him in elite company — only a handful of players under 25 have that many.

1. 2022 Wyndham Championship — This was the breakthrough. Kim won his first PGA Tour event at Sedgefield Country Club, shooting a final-round 61. He became the first PGA Tour winner born after 2000. At 20 years old, he was the second-youngest winner on Tour since World War II.

2. 2022 Shriners Children's Open — Two months later, he did it again. Back-to-back wins in his rookie-ish season. This kid was not messing around.

3. 2023 Shriners Children's Open — Defended his title in Las Vegas. Three wins before he turned 22.

4. 2026 Genesis Scottish Open — This one meant more. After a 33-month drought, Kim won his first Rolex Series title with a bogey-free final-round 64, finishing at 17-under par. He beat Min Woo Lee by two shots.

He's also made two Presidents Cup appearances for the International team and finished T2 at the 2023 Open Championship — his best major result so far.

For a complete list of this season's PGA Tour winners, check out our PGA Tour winners roundup.

What Happened to Tom Kim? The Rise, The Drought, The Comeback

Here's the thing about Tom Kim that most stat sheets don't tell you: he fell off. Hard.

After that electric 2022-2023 run, Kim went cold. Really cold. Since the start of the 2024 season, he's missed 17 cuts on the PGA Tour. SEVENTEEN. That's not a slump — that's a crisis.

His last wins before the Scottish Open were those back-to-back victories in Las Vegas in 2022 and 2023. That's a 33-month gap between trophies. For a guy who won three times before turning 22, that drought felt like an eternity.

What happened? Nobody has a perfect answer. Kim's game didn't fall apart — he was still striking it well. But the putter went quiet, and the margins on Tour are razor-thin. One bad week turns into two, turns into a season, turns into "what happened to that kid?"

But the Scottish Open changed everything. Kim shot 65-66-68-64, made six birdies in the final round without a single bogey, and walked away with a two-shot victory. He banked £1.2 million ($1.6 million) for the win.

His career earnings now sit north of $20 million. Not bad for a guy who turned pro at 15.

Kim also became the first South Korean to win the Scottish Open and only the fourth non-American player to win four PGA Tour events before turning 25. That's the kind of stat that makes you sit up and pay attention.

Tom Kim's Playing Style: Why Elite Iron Play Wins Golf Tournaments

If you watch Tom Kim for five minutes, you'll notice one thing immediately: he's not a bomber.

He doesn't overpower golf courses. He doesn't hit it 330 yards down the middle like some of the young guns. Kim wins with precision — specifically, elite iron play.

His swing is compact and repeatable. No wasted motion. No big, looping takeaway. Just a tight, controlled move that produces consistent center-face contact shot after shot.

That's why he thrives on links golf. Links courses demand control, not distance. You can't just bomb it and find it — you have to shape shots, judge wind, and hit precise numbers. Kim's game is built for that.

He gained strokes in every major category at the Scottish Open, leading the field from tee to green. That's not luck. That's a guy who knows exactly where the clubface is at all times.

The knock on Kim? He's not long enough to dominate on American-style bomb-and-gouge courses. On tracks where everyone hits driver-wedge, his advantage disappears. But give him a firm, fast, windy course with premium on iron play? He'll beat almost anyone.

What's in Tom Kim's Bag? (2026 WITB)

Here's the full equipment setup Kim was using when he won the Scottish Open, photographed prior to the John Deere Classic.

Kim plays a full Titleist bag from driver to wedges, with the only non-Titleist club being his Scotty Cameron putter (technically Titleist-owned anyway).

What's interesting? He carries both a 5-wood AND a 2-iron. That's a lot of long clubs. Most Tour players pick one or the other. Kim wants options — and given his iron-play reputation, that 2-iron is probably a weapon.

For more detailed breakdowns of what the pros are playing, see our what's in the bag series.

Does Tom Kim Have to Serve in the Military?

This is the question that keeps coming up, and for good reason.

South Korea has mandatory military service for all able-bodied men. It's 18 to 21 months, and most men serve before they turn 35.

But there's an exemption: win a medal at the Olympics or a gold medal at the Asian Games, and you're off the hook. A major championship win doesn't count. Neither does a Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup. It has to be Olympic or Asian Games.

Kim almost got the exemption at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He was in medal contention late on Sunday but fell short. After the round, he broke down in tears. The internet assumed he was crying about military service. Kim later clarified: the tears were about missing a medal for his country, not about conscription.

He's still got chances. The 2026 Asian Games and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics are his next shots at exemption.

If he doesn't get a medal, he'll have to serve. That means 18 months away from professional golf — right in the middle of his prime. It's a massive career risk, and every South Korean male golfer faces it.

Kim turned pro at 15. He's been grinding for almost a decade. The idea of putting the clubs down for a year and a half? Brutal. But that's the reality.

Is Tom Kim Married? His Personal Life

Yes — Tom Kim is married.

He quietly married Lee Seo-yeon in 2025. The couple met in Dallas in 2024, when Seo-yeon and her family were spending time there on a sabbatical.

Seo-yeon is no slouch academically — she double-majored at Smith College in the United States.

Kim keeps his personal life relatively private, which is why the marriage flew under the radar for most fans. But the Korea JoongAng Daily broke the story, and it's been confirmed by multiple outlets.

Are Scottie Scheffler and Tom Kim Still Friends?

Short answer: yes.

The two have a genuine friendship that goes beyond the usual Tour pleasantries. Kim shares a good relationship with the entire Scheffler family — not just Scottie, but his wife Meredith as well.

They're often grouped together in practice rounds, and you'll see them chatting on the range. In a sport where most players keep to themselves, the Kim-Scheffler friendship stands out.

Scheffler is the world #1 (or close to it). Kim is a rising star. It's a mentor-mentee dynamic that works, and it says a lot about both guys that they've kept it going despite the competitive pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened with Tom Kim?

Tom Kim experienced a dramatic rise with three PGA Tour wins in 2022-2023, followed by a 33-month winless drought during which he missed 17 cuts. He broke the drought in July 2026 by winning the Genesis Scottish Open with a bogey-free final-round 64.

Are Scottie Scheffler and Tom Kim still friends?

Yes. They remain close friends, and Kim has a strong relationship with Scheffler's entire family, including his wife Meredith.

Does Tom Kim have to go to the military?

Yes — unless he wins an Olympic medal or an Asian Games gold medal before he turns 35. He missed out at the 2024 Paris Olympics but still has chances at the 2026 Asian Games and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Is Tom Kim married?

Yes. He married Lee Seo-yeon in 2025. They met in Dallas in 2024, and she double-majored at Smith College.

How old is Tom Kim?

Tom Kim was born June 21, 2002, making him 24 years old as of 2026.

How tall is Tom Kim?

Tom Kim is 6 feet 0 inches (183 cm) tall.

Is Tom Kim playing in the Masters?

Kim has played in multiple Masters tournaments. His best finish was T16 in 2023. He secured a spot in the 2027 Masters with his Scottish Open win.

The Bottom Line on Tom Kim

Here's my honest take: Tom Kim is the most underrated iron player on Tour right now.

He doesn't have the flash of a bomber or the hype of a college star. He just shows up, stripes it, and lets the scoreboard do the talking. His swing is boring in the best possible way — repeatable, reliable, and built for pressure.

But let's be real: he's not for everyone. If you're a fan of long-drive contests and birdie fests on soft American courses, Kim might not be your guy. He's a shot-maker, not a bomber. On the right course — firm, fast, wind in your face — he'll beat almost anyone. On a TPC-style resort course where everyone hits wedge into every green? He's just another guy.

That's the honest limitation. And honestly? It makes him more interesting.

Kim turned pro at 15. He's been on the road for almost a decade. He's got four PGA Tour wins, $20 million in career earnings, and a military service question that won't go away. He's also got a genuine friendship with Scottie Scheffler — the best player in the world — which tells you something about the kind of competitor he is.

The Scottish Open win wasn't a fluke. It was a reminder.

Tom Kim is back. And if you're not paying attention, you're missing one of the best ball-strikers of his generation.