Chan Kim Bio
Chan Kim (born March 24, 1990) is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour. He formerly played on the Japan Golf Tour, where he won eight times, and the Korn Ferry Tour, where he won twice. Standing 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) tall, Kim has built his career across developmental circuits in North America, Europe, and Asia before reaching the game’s top tier.
Born in Suwon, South Korea, and raised in the United States, Kim developed his game in Hawaii and later at Arizona State University. After turning professional in 2010, he competed in Canada, Europe, and Asia before establishing himself as one of the leading players on the Japan Golf Tour and earning PGA Tour status in 2024.
Early Life and Background
Chan Kim was born on March 24, 1990, in Suwon, South Korea. Although born in South Korea, he grew up in Hawaii, where the warm climate and year-round golf courses provided an ideal setting for him to learn the game. His early surroundings, combined with a family that supported his ambitions, helped him pursue competitive golf from a young age.
Kim’s formative years in Hawaii allowed him to refine his swing and build the technical foundation that would later serve him on professional circuits. The combination of Pacific island culture, American schooling, and Korean heritage shaped a balanced identity that he has carried throughout his career.
Path to Professional Golf
Kim played his college golf at Arizona State University, a program long known for producing elite talent. During his amateur career, he won the 2009 Pacific Coast Amateur and became a two-time winner of the Arizona Stroke Play Championship. These results placed him among the top amateurs in the country heading into his professional debut.
After turning professional in 2010, Kim began his climb through the developmental tours. He played on the Canadian Tour in 2011, the Challenge Tour in 2013, and the Asian Tour in 2013 and 2014. In 2013, he finished runner-up at the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship, a strong result that confirmed his readiness for higher-level competition.
Chan Kim Career
Japan Golf Tour Breakthrough (2015–2023)
Kim joined the Japan Golf Tour in 2015 and quickly established himself as a consistent contender. His breakthrough came in 2017, when he won the Mizuno Open, a victory that earned him a spot in The Open Championship. Earlier that same week, he had also secured a qualifying berth for the 2017 U.S. Open, marking his arrival on the global stage.
Later in 2017, Kim captured his second Japan Golf Tour title at the Shigeo Nagashima Invitational Sega Sammy Cup, sealing the win with a bogey-free final round of 66. His play that year earned him the Japan Golf Tour Rookie of the Year award despite having competed on the circuit for two seasons. He continued to build momentum through 2019, when he reached a career-high Official World Golf Ranking of 61 on December 29, 2019.
Kim’s strongest season came in 2020–21, when he won the Japan Golf Tour money list and was named the tour’s Most Valuable Player. Across his Japan Golf Tour career, he accumulated eight victories, cementing his reputation as one of the circuit’s most accomplished international players during that period.
Korn Ferry Tour and PGA Tour Promotion (2023–2024)
In August 2023, Kim won his first event on the Korn Ferry Tour, the Magnit Championship, by three shots. The following week, he added the Albertsons Boise Open to his résumé, demonstrating remarkable back-to-back form. By the end of the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour season, he had finished second on the regular-season points list, earning his PGA Tour card for the following year.
His two Korn Ferry Tour wins in 2023 gave him a total of ten professional victories across all tours. The performance validated his decision to return to North American competition and positioned him for full-time status on the PGA Tour beginning in 2024.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the milestones in Kim’s career are his 2017 Open Championship appearance, earned through the Mizuno Open, and a T11 finish at Royal Birkdale that same year, his best result in a major to date. He also made the cut at the 2021 PGA Championship, finishing T23. His back-to-back Korn Ferry Tour victories in August 2023 stand out as one of the most efficient late-season pushes in recent memory on that circuit.
Chan Kim Career Wins
Chan Kim has recorded ten professional victories across multiple tours. Eight of those wins came on the Japan Golf Tour, where he became a multiple-time champion and the 2020–21 money list leader. Two additional victories came during his 2023 run on the Korn Ferry Tour, which secured his promotion to the PGA Tour.
Japan Golf Tour Highlights
Kim’s first Japan Golf Tour win came at the 2017 Mizuno Open, a breakthrough that also booked his place in The Open Championship. His second victory followed later that summer at the Shigeo Nagashima Invitational Sega Sammy Cup. He went on to collect six further Japan Golf Tour titles, finishing the 2020–21 season as the tour’s top earner and Most Valuable Player.
Korn Ferry Tour Highlights
On the Korn Ferry Tour, Kim won twice in consecutive weeks during August 2023. First came the Magnit Championship, won by three strokes, and then the Albertsons Boise Open. The streak propelled him to a second-place finish on the regular-season points list and a PGA Tour card for the following season.
Chan Kim Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public information about Chan Kim’s immediate family is limited. He was born in Suwon, South Korea, and grew up in Hawaii, where his family settled after leaving South Korea. Details about his parents and siblings have not been publicly confirmed in available sources.
Kim resides in Gilbert, Arizona, a location that places him near several PGA Tour venues and year-round practice facilities. His current residence reflects the typical base of American tour professionals who split their seasons between West Coast, desert, and southern stops on the schedule.
2025 Season Performance
Entering 2025, Chan Kim holds full status on the PGA Tour after earning his card through the 2023 Korn Ferry Tour. His debut season in 2024 provided him with experience at the highest level of professional golf, and 2025 represents an opportunity to build on that foundation with stronger finishes and improved FedExCup standing.
Kim’s game is well suited to the variety of courses on the PGA Tour schedule. His experience on the Japan Golf Tour, with its small, strategic greens and varied weather, has helped him develop a disciplined iron game and creative shot-making ability. Those strengths should continue to serve him in 2025, particularly on classic American parkland layouts.
With ten professional wins already in hand and a top-65 world ranking to his credit, Kim has the résumé of a player capable of contending on any given week. The 2025 season will test his ability to convert that experience into consistent PGA Tour results as he works to establish himself among the tour’s full-time competitors.
