‘Newlywed’ Kim Si-woo: "Honey, I won with a comeback"

Sony Open Final Day 6-Under Par, Celebrates 4th Career Win
Berkeley 2nd, An Byeonghun and Kim Seonghyeon Tied 12th

‘Newlywed’ Kim Si-woo’s come-from-behind victory.

On the 15th (local time), Kim Si-woo surged with a 6-under-par final round at the Sony Open (total prize money $7.9 million) of the 2022/2023 PGA Tour season, held at Waialae Country Club (par 70, 7,044 yards) in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, to complete a one-stroke victory (18-under-par 262). This marks his fourth career win and first in two years since his January 2021 American Express victory, earning a winner’s prize of $1,422,000 (approximately 1.76 billion KRW).

Kim Si-woo cheers after making a chip-in birdie on the 17th hole on the final day of the Sony Open. Hawaii=AFP·Yonhap News

Starting from a tie for 5th place, three strokes behind, Kim Si-woo recorded eight birdies and two bogeys. He gained momentum with three consecutive birdies from holes 1 to 3, then recovered immediately from a three-putt bogey on the 6th hole (par 4) with a birdie on the 7th hole (par 3). Although he made a bogey due to an approach mistake on the 8th hole (par 4), he easily secured a birdie on the 9th hole (par 5) with a ‘2-on 2-putt’. On the 12th hole (par 4), he sank a 3-meter birdie putt to finally take the top spot on the leaderboard.

Kim Si-woo energized himself with a chip-in birdie on the 17th hole (par 3) and finished with a birdie on the final 18th hole (par 5), achieving a thrilling come-from-behind victory. His powerful drives averaged 322.6 yards, and his iron shots were outstanding with a green hit rate of 83.33%.

Kim Si-woo is known as the ‘Golf Prodigy of Korea,’ having started golf at age six. While in 5th grade at Gyodong Elementary School in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, he was selected for the national representative reserve team, and upon entering high school, he immediately joined the national team, following an ‘elite course.’ In 2012, at age 17, he passed the PGA Tour Qualifying (Q) School but was unable to compete properly due to the ‘age restriction (18 years)’ rule and was relegated to the Korn Ferry Tour (2nd tier).

In 2015, Kim Si-woo returned to the PGA Tour the following year by finishing 10th on the Korn Ferry Tour money list, winning his first title at the Wyndham Championship in August. In 2017, he captured the Players Championship, known as the ‘5th Major,’ instantly rising to world star status.

After a downhill period, he collected a victory trophy again at the American Express after 3 years and 8 months. Kim Si-woo competed in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and left a strong impression last September at the Presidents Cup, a men’s golf team competition excluding the USA and Europe, showcasing outstanding skills. On the final day, he defeated Justin Thomas (USA) by one hole in a singles match, recording the best performance among Korean players with 3 wins and 1 loss.

Kim Si-woo became a ‘married man’ on the 18th of last month. He married Oh Ji-hyun, who has seven wins on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour. The two players knew each other as junior national representatives. They officially became a ‘pro golfer couple’ after revealing their relationship in August last year. They set up their newlywed home in Dallas, Texas, USA. Kim Si-woo, on his honeymoon trip to Hawaii, added meaning to his victory by receiving on-site support from Oh Ji-hyun.

Hayden Buckley (USA), who led by two strokes until the previous day, lowered his score by two strokes but settled for 2nd place (17-under-par 263), his personal best surpassing a tie for 4th at the Sanderson Farms Championship in October 2021. Last year’s runner-up Russell Henley (USA) tied for 32nd (9-under-par 271), and defending champion Hideki Matsuyama (Japan) tied for 48th (7-under-par 273).

Korea’s An Byeong-hun collected four birdies (one bogey), rising to a tie for 12th place (12-under-par 268). Rookie Kim Seong-hyun added 2-under-par to join this group. Lee Kyeong-hoon finished tied for 28th (10-under-par 270). The PGA Tour will hold the American Express (total prize money $8 million) from the 19th for four days in La Quinta, California, USA.