Behind every successful PGA Tour player stands a team of dedicated supporters, but who are the people fueling Si Woo Kim’s remarkable journey to golf’s biggest stages? He has accumulated four PGA Tour victories since 2016. His breakthrough win came at the 2016 Wyndham Championship. The following year brought his career-defining victory at the Players Championship. That win made him the tournament’s youngest champion at age 21. His success stems from an inner circle that has shaped every step of his journey.
The team behind Si Woo Kim’s success
Si Woo Kim began his golf journey with the most fundamental support system – his family. His father, Kim Doo-young, played the pivotal role. He introduced his son to golf in Seoul, South Korea. Kim considers his father “the only teacher he has ever had.” This close bond created the foundation for Kim’s future success on the PGA Tour.
The family support transformed into professional guidance as Kim’s career progressed. Sean Foley entered the picture at the 2016 Arnold Palmer Invitational. Foley gave Kim a crucial one-hour lesson at 6 AM that week. Just a year later, Kim claimed his biggest victory at the Players Championship. Foley remained with Kim through this breakthrough moment.
In 2019, Kim partnered with Claude Harmon, a renowned coach. Harmon worked with stars like Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson. Their collaboration bore fruit at the 2021 American Express. Kim credited Harmon’s advice after that win, “My coach talked to me about it a lot and, even this week, he told me there will be chances anytime and to keep waiting and be patient, keep composure, and believe in yourself. That’s what I tried to do.”
Currently, Kim works alongside his caddie, Manuel Villegas. The brother of PGA Tour pro Camilo Villegas joined Kim’s team in 2022. Their partnership produced immediate success. Kim won the 2023 Sony Open in Hawaii just months after they started working together. Villegas has since guided Kim through major moments, including two Presidents Cup appearances.
However, no supporter has impacted Kim’s recent career more than his wife, Ji Hyun Oh. The couple started dating in 2021 after meeting at a golf event in 2014. Oh, a professional golfer herself, had seven victories on the Korean LPGA Tour. They married on December 18, 2022, in a small ceremony with family and friends.
Oh made a significant sacrifice for their partnership. “I will now be Kim’s wife, rather than a professional golfer,” she announced after their wedding. She paused her own career to support Kim’s tournament schedule. This decision has proven invaluable for Kim’s on-course performance.
The impact was immediate. Just weeks after their wedding, Kim won the 2023 Sony Open. He pointed to Oh’s presence as the key factor. “She walked with me the whole time, and she gave me so much strength,” Kim said. “There were some tense moments, but I was able to smile and relax whenever I saw her along the ropes.”
Their family grew with the birth of their son, Theo, in February 2024. This development added another dimension to Kim’s support system. Oh continues to travel with Kim to tournaments, providing the emotional foundation for his competitive success.
Si Woo Kim’s performance
His most recent victory came at the 2023 Sony Open, completed with Villegas on the bag and Oh supporting from the gallery. Kim’s performance in team events has also improved. He has represented the International team in the Presidents Cup three times, with another appearance scheduled for 2024.
While Kim continues battling through the 2025 season, his support system remains intact. His father’s early influence, professional guidance from top coaches, dedicated caddie partnership, and wife’s unwavering presence form an essential network. This team approach explains Kim’s sustained success on the PGA Tour. As Oh said on Instagram after their wedding, “I promised to spend the rest of my life with the person I want to spend the rest my life with.” That promise continues to power Si Woo Kim’s professional journey.
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