Grace Kim’s sharp shots at the 2024 JM Eagle LA Championship have landed her at the top of the golf world bulletin. The young Australian professional golfer gained a first-round lead after shooting a 7-under 64 at the Wilshire Country Club. But Kim is not new to living her life in the spotlight.

Born on December 13, 2000, in Sydney, Australia, and raised in Greenacre, New South Wales, the 23-year-old boasts a glorious amateur career in addition to her numerous feats as a professional golfer. She rose higher in popularity as she climbed to No. 29 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in 2019 and became Australia’s highest-ranked female amateur. However, her love for the game of golf began long before 2019.

She fell in love with golf almost a decade prior to 2019, when she was just an 8-year-old girl learning how to swing a club. Since then, the new addition to the LPGA Tour family has recorded one career LPGA Tour win and two top-10 finishes. She has also been famously termed “the complete package” by Australian pro-golfer Geoff Ogilvy. But what makes this Sydney-sider so special?

Grace Kim’s unique style of play on the greens

The Australian star boasts unbeatable accuracy, with an exceptional putting strategy that helps her shoot unforgettable shots around the greens. She takes a laidback yet decisive touch around the greens.

Apart from her remarkable physical abilities and calculative shots, what really helps this Sydney-born star is her command over the demanding aspects of the game. So much so that, witnessing her composure in her early days as a pro, Ogilvy said, “She doesn’t have a weakness; she wasn’t showing any nerves—the complete package.”

Having earned over $1 million in career earnings on the Tour so far, Kim has an insane driving accuracy of 79.87% and a putting average of 30.36. She has yet to score her first ace on the LPGA Tour; however, considering her steep climb up the success ladder in the last few years, as well as her immaculate ability to shoot the ball straight, her first hole-in-one does not remain far-fetched. But who are the people who make this perfect game possible for the young pro-golfer?

Grace Kim’s backbone on the course

Grace Kim’s definitely a team player who remains grateful to all those who make her experience on the greens effortless. In fact, after her maiden win at the 2023 Lotte Championship, she quickly acknowledged the role her caddie, Mike, played in achieving the unbelievably Swift victory. She also talked about how Mike helped her manage her aggressive shots and boost her score.

The proud Caddie Snacks ambassador also has a number of sponsors backing her every move. This primarily involves Srixon Golf, Adidas Golf, and even the world-famous BMW Australia. She is often seen showcasing her reality to her team and collaborators. But as she swiftly advances in professional life, where does her heart truly lie?

Delving deeper into Kim’s personal life

Kim is a firm proponent of the verse Philippians 4:13, which says, “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength,” thus indicating her strong belief in religion and god. She was born to Korean-born parents who immigrated to Australia in 2000. Her father has remained a key inspiration in her golfing journey, giving her the wings to professionally pursue the game. Talking about her father, she said, “It’s one of the many things I love about him. He believed in me before I ever believed in myself.”

The young Australian pro seems to be single at the moment. She chooses to keep her personal dating life private. However, she does not shy away from sharing tidbits from her life on social media. She frequently travels around the world. It seems she harbors a love for beaches and swimming in general, considering how often she is seen taking a swim in serene locations.

The 1-time LPGA Tour winner seems to share a love for pets as well. In one of her Instagram posts, she is spotted with a beautiful Golden Retriever, possibly indicating that she has taken on the role of a dog mom. She’s clearly a lot more than just a golf superstar!