Arim Kim, Again 2020

Second Major Appearance at the US Women's Open
2020 Non-Member Champion, Entered the US the Following Year
Riding Momentum with Season Opener Victory, Eyeing More Trophies

Arim Kim is aiming to become a major champion.

From May 29 (local time), Arim Kim will compete in the US Women's Open, the second major tournament of the 2025 season, held over four days at Erin Hills (par 72, 6,829 yards) in Erin, Wisconsin, United States. The tournament offers a record prize fund of $12 million (approximately 16.4 billion KRW), the highest in women's golf history. Among the 156 players in this year's event, 25 are Korean?making Korea the second largest contingent after the United States (39 players).

Arim Kim challenges for the title at the major tournament US Women's Open. AP Yonhap News

Since Se Ri Pak's legendary barefoot victory in 1998, which laid the foundation for the growth of Korean women's golf, Korean players have claimed the US Women's Open title 11 times, achieved by 10 different golfers. Following Se Ri Pak, the winners include Kim Joo-yeon in 2005, Park Inbee in 2008 and 2013, Ji Eun-hee in 2009, Ryu So-yeon in 2011, Choi Na-yeon in 2012, Chun In-gee in 2015, Park Sung-hyun in 2017, Lee Jeong-eun in 2019, and Arim Kim in 2020. Since 2000 alone, Korean players have won the tournament 10 times, but there have been no victories since Arim Kim's win. Last year, for the first time in 27 years, not a single Korean player finished in the top 10.

Korea is seeking a turnaround, led by Arim Kim. She is the golfer who shocked the world with her unexpected victory at the US Women's Open. After securing three wins on the KLPGA Tour, she moved to the United States immediately following her US Women's Open triumph. In November last year, she claimed a wire-to-wire victory at the Lotte Championship in Hawaii, and in February this year, she earned her third career win at the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.

Arim Kim has been in strong form this year. She has played in nine tournaments, recording one win and four top-10 finishes. She placed sixth at the Honda LPGA Thailand, tied for seventh at the HSBC Women's World Championship, and tied for ninth at the T-Mobile Match Play. Her impressive driving distance remains steady at an average of 277.83 yards (10th), and she ranks 12th in putts per green in regulation at 1.74. In the first and second rounds, Arim Kim will play alongside Allison Corpuz (United States) and Ariya Jutanugarn (Thailand).