Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Kim Si-woo

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 19, 2026

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Kim Si-woo made an impact.

Kim Si-woo is a prominent South Korean professional golfer who competes on the PGA Tour. He gained international recognition early in his career by becoming the youngest winner of The Players Championship in 2017 at the age of 21. Known for his consistent ball-striking and composure under pressure, Kim has secured multiple PGA Tour victories, including the 2021 American Express and the 2023 Sony Open in Hawaii. His career highlights also include representing South Korea in various international competitions, such as the Presidents Cup. As a highly skilled and resilient competitor, Kim remains a significant figure in professional golf, consistently ranking among the top international players on the global circuit.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

2012: PGA Tour Qualifying School Graduate

In 2012, Kim Si-woo finished tied for 20th at the PGA Tour Qualifying School at the age of 17, becoming the youngest player to ever graduate from the school.

2013: Professional Season Challenges

During the 2013 season, Kim Si-woo navigated PGA Tour membership restrictions due to his age, missing the cut in seven PGA Tour starts and withdrawing from one, while also participating in seven Web.com Tour events.

2014: Web.com Tour Performance

During the 2014 season, Kim Si-woo competed on the Web.com Tour, successfully making the cut in 15 out of 19 tournaments, which included a noteworthy third-place finish at the Cleveland Open.

2015: First Web.com Tour Victory

In July 2015, Kim Si-woo secured his first career win on the Web.com Tour at the Stonebrae Classic, becoming the second-youngest player to achieve this feat. By the end of 2015, he ranked tenth on the money list, qualifying him for the PGA Tour.

2016: PGA Tour Qualification

Following his successful 2015 campaign where he finished tenth on the Web.com Tour money list, Kim Si-woo earned his place to compete on the PGA Tour for the 2016 season.

2016: First PGA Tour Victory

In 2016, Kim Si-woo secured his maiden win on the PGA Tour at the Wyndham Championship, becoming the youngest winner of the season at age 21.

2017: Winning the 2017 Players Championship

In 2017, Kim Si-woo secured a victory at the Players Championship, setting a record as the youngest winner of the tournament at the age of 21.

2017: Players Championship Win

In 2017, Kim Si-woo won the Players Championship by three strokes after a bogey-free final round, becoming the second Korean player to achieve this victory.

2018: 2018 RBC Heritage Sudden-Death Playoff Loss

In April 2018, Kim Si-woo led the RBC Heritage for most of the final round but struggled on the back nine, eventually falling into a sudden-death playoff against Satoshi Kodaira. Kim ultimately lost the tournament on the third extra hole after Kodaira sank a birdie putt.

2020: 2020 Golf Season Performance

During the 2020 golf season, Kim Si-woo experienced inconsistent results, as his tournament finishes were recorded in a non-chronological order.

January 2021: Victory at The American Express

In January 2021, Kim Si-woo secured his third PGA Tour title at The American Express tournament held in La Quinta, California, after shooting a final round of 8-under 64 to defeat runner-up Patrick Cantlay by one stroke.

September 2022: Participation in the 2022 Presidents Cup

In September 2022, Kim Si-woo represented the International team at the 2022 Presidents Cup, where he achieved a performance record of three wins and one loss across his four matches.

2022: Discontinuation of Championship and Invitational Tournaments

In 2022, specific golf tournaments, namely the Championship and the Invitational, were officially discontinued from the professional schedule.

January 2023: Victory at the Sony Open in Hawaii

In January 2023, Kim Si-woo secured his fourth PGA Tour victory by winning the Sony Open in Hawaii, finishing one shot ahead of Hayden Buckley after birdying the final two holes.