Michael Kim turned an eight-stroke record win at the 2018 John Deere Classic and a viral presence on Golf Twitter into one of the most recognizable careers in modern professional golf.
He delivered his best season yet — clearing $4 million in prize money and adding a DP World Tour title — cementing his place as a genuine PGA Tour winner with a growing financial portfolio.
Michael Kim’s Biography
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Michael Sangwon Kim |
| Date of Birth | July 14, 1993 |
| Age | 32 |
| Birthplace | Seoul, South Korea |
| Nationality | American |
| Height / Weight | 5 ft 11 in / 165 lb |
| Residence | Houston, Texas, USA |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| Turned Professional | 2013 |
| Years Active | 2013 – present |
| Tours | PGA Tour, DP World Tour (European Tour) |
| Official World Golf Ranking | ~57 (July 2026) |
| Professional Wins | 2 (1 PGA Tour, 1 DP World Tour) |
| Major Titles | 0 |
| Net Worth | ~$8 million |
| Career Prize Money | ~$14 million |
| Social Media | X / Twitter: @Mike_kim714 (180,000+ followers) |
Early Life and Golf Journey
Michael Sangwon Kim was born on July 14, 1993, in Seoul, South Korea.
His family moved to the United States when he was young, eventually settling in San Diego, California, where he attended the highly competitive Torrey Pines High School.
Kim discovered golf early and showed exceptional talent from the start. He earned a place on the golf team at the University of California, Berkeley, where he quickly became one of the most decorated collegiate golfers in the country.
Among his Cal teammates was Max Homa, who later became a multi-time PGA Tour winner and a close friend throughout Kim’s career.
His amateur honors were extraordinary. In 2013, Kim became the first Cal golfer in history to win the Jack Nicklaus Award, presented to the NCAA Division I Player of the Year by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
That same year, he claimed the Haskins Award — collegiate golf’s highest individual honor — selected by players, coaches, and media members across the country.
Kim also made his major championship debut as an amateur in 2013, qualifying for the U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club and finishing tied for 17th — earning low amateur honors.
That performance signaled to the professional world that he was ready to compete at the highest level.
He turned professional in December 2013, joining the Web.com Tour (now the Korn Ferry Tour) with strong momentum and high expectations from the golf community.
After two seasons developing his professional game on the development tour, Kim finished 13th on the 2015 Web.com Tour money list, which earned him full PGA Tour status heading into the 2016 season — a remarkable achievement for a player still in his early twenties.
Professional Golf Career
Michael Kim made his full-time PGA Tour debut in 2016 and showed steady improvement over his first two seasons, demonstrating particular strength on the greens.
His putting remained one of the most reliable elements of his game even during periods of inconsistency elsewhere.
His defining moment came on July 15, 2018, at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois. Kim shot a final-round 66 to win the 2018 John Deere Classic by a record-setting eight strokes, finishing at 27-under 257 and breaking Steve Stricker’s previous tournament scoring record.
The victory — on his 25th birthday weekend — earned him $1.044 million and an exemption into The Open Championship at Carnoustie.
What followed was one of professional golf’s more dramatic downturns. In 2019, Kim missed the cut in 19 of 20 events and fell to 502nd in the Official World Golf Ranking.
He eventually lost his PGA Tour card and returned to the Korn Ferry Tour for 2022, where he earned back his status by finishing 19th in the Regular Season Eligibility Points List.
His comeback season in 2022–23 proved he belonged at the top level, and by 2025 he had become one of the Tour’s most consistent performers.
That season, he recorded a runner-up finish at the WM Phoenix Open, a fourth-place result at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and four total top-10s across the year.
In September 2025, Kim flew to Paris and won the FedEx Open de France on the DP World Tour, becoming the first American to win the tournament since Barry Jaeckel in 1972.
He drained a nervy 16-foot par putt from a bunker on the 72nd hole to claim the title by one stroke.
In July 2026, Kim made PGA Tour history at the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities, shooting a second-round 59 — becoming the 15th golfer ever to break 60 on the PGA Tour.
His round included 12 birdies, no bogeys, and a dramatic 24-foot birdie putt to close out the historic score. Kim’s highest OWGR ranking reached No. 35 in November 2025, and he sat at approximately No. 57 by mid-2026.
Caddie
Michael Kim’s current caddie is Danny Stout, an American looper who has worked across multiple levels of professional golf.
Stout began his caddying career in 2007 with Ben Bates before taking a lengthy break from the circuit and returning to caddie for Robert Allenby.
He joined Kim’s bag more recently and the partnership has produced strong results, including Kim’s runner-up at the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational and his fourth-place finish there.
Stout’s course-management input has complemented Kim’s naturally sharp putting game and instinctive competitive style.
Michael Kim’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Michael Kim’s has an estimated net worth of $8 million.
He built this through PGA Tour and DP World Tour prize money, a Titleist equipment deal, brand partnerships with financial firms, and social media influence that sets him apart from most of his peers on the Tour.
Career Prize Money
Michael Kim’s total career prize money across the PGA Tour and DP World Tour stands at approximately $14 million through mid-2026.
His biggest single-tournament earnings came from his 2018 John Deere Classic victory, where he collected $1.044 million.
His 2025 season was his most financially productive by a considerable margin, as he cleared over $4 million in PGA Tour prize money alone — more than he had earned in any previous full season and more than double the $2 million mark he had surpassed just once in eight prior seasons.
His runner-up finish at the 2025 WM Phoenix Open was another landmark result. The Phoenix Open carries one of the largest purses on Tour, and a top-two finish delivers a significant payday.
Kim also earned prize money from the DP World Tour when he claimed the FedEx Open de France title in September 2025.
His 2026 season has started with continued consistency, including a tie for 44th at the 2026 PGA Championship and an ongoing contention week at the 3M Open.
Career Earnings By Year
| Season / Year | Tour Wins | Approx. Prize Money |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 (Web.com) | 0 | ~$150,000 |
| 2015 (Web.com) | 0 | ~$350,000 |
| 2016 (PGA Tour) | 0 | ~$650,000 |
| 2017 (PGA Tour) | 0 | ~$700,000 |
| 2018 (PGA Tour) | 1 (John Deere Classic) | ~$1.8 million |
| 2019 (PGA Tour) | 0 | ~$200,000 |
| 2020–21 (PGA Tour) | 0 | ~$800,000 |
| 2022 (Korn Ferry Tour) | 0 | ~$300,000 |
| 2022–23 (PGA Tour) | 0 | ~$1.5 million |
| 2023–24 (PGA Tour) | 0 | ~$1.2 million |
| 2025 (PGA Tour + DP World Tour) | 1 (FedEx Open de France) | ~$4.3 million |
| 2026 (PGA Tour, through July) | 0 (TBD) | ~$2.0 million (est.) |
Endorsements
Michael Kim’s most significant commercial relationship is with Titleist, the golf equipment giant.
He plays a full bag of Titleist equipment, including the Titleist GT2 driver, Titleist T100 and T250 irons, Titleist Vokey Design SM10 wedges, and a Titleist ball.
Kim has confirmed publicly that his equipment deal is his most financially significant commercial arrangement — which he noted is the reality for all but the top 10 players on the PGA Tour.
He has also promoted Titleist gear through behind-the-scenes content on his X account, where his audience of over 180,000 followers gives him unique brand reach.
In March 2025, Kim signed a global ambassador agreement with Generational Group, a leading M&A advisory and investment banking firm focused on privately held businesses.
The deal includes appearances at client events as Kim travels the country for Tour events, leveraging his credibility and wide social following.
Also in March 2025, Kim announced a partnership with Range, an AI-powered wealth management firm, which placed Range’s branding on Kim’s apparel during PGA Tour events.
The deal reflected Kim’s alignment with technology and financial services brands — a natural fit given his reputation for transparent, data-driven conversations about money in professional golf.
Career Statistics
| Season | Events Played | Wins | Top 10s | Cuts Made | Year-End OWGR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 14 | ~230 |
| 2017 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 16 | ~220 |
| 2018 | 27 | 1 | 2 | 17 | ~125 |
| 2019 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 502 |
| 2020–21 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 9 | ~220 |
| 2022 (KFT) | 25 | 0 | 0 | 22 | — |
| 2022–23 | 28 | 0 | 2 | 18 | ~130 |
| 2023–24 | 26 | 0 | 2 | 18 | ~120 |
| 2025 | 30+ | 1 | 4 | 22+ | 35 (peak, Nov) |
| 2026 (partial) | 15+ | 0 | 1 | 12+ | 57 |
FAQs
What is Michael Kim’s total career prize money?
Michael Kim has earned approximately $14 million in career prize money across the PGA Tour, Korn Ferry Tour, and DP World Tour through. His breakout 2025 season alone generated over $4 million in prize money.
What is Michael Kim’s biggest endorsement deal?
Kim’s most financially significant endorsement is his full-bag equipment deal with Titleist, which he has confirmed is the largest single sponsor for most mid-ranked PGA Tour players. He also holds ambassador deals with Generational Group and Range.
How many PGA Tour wins does Michael Kim have?
Michael Kim has one official PGA Tour win — the 2018 John Deere Classic, which he won by a record eight strokes. He also won the 2025 FedEx Open de France on the DP World Tour for his second professional title.
What is Michael Kim’s current world golf ranking?
Michael Kim sits at approximately No. 57 in the Official World Golf Ranking. His career-best ranking reached No. 35 in November 2025 following his DP World Tour victory in France.
What was Michael Kim’s highest single-season earnings on the PGA Tour?
Michael Kim’s highest single-season earnings came, when he cleared over $4 million in prize money on the PGA Tour — his personal record by a wide margin and nearly double any previous season.
