Only Top-10 Finish Was 7th at AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
World Ranking Plummets from 21st Last Year to 107th
Struggles After Swing Changes, But Youth Offers Hope
Clark, Spieth, Fowler, and Finau Also Named as Comeback Candidates
Kim Joo-hyung has been recognized as a player aiming for a resurgence next year.
Recently, CBS Sports in the United States published an article titled "Players to Watch for a Comeback in the 2026 PGA Tour Season," highlighting eight players who struggled this year. Kim Joo-hyung was among them.
Kim Joo-hyung entered the PGA Tour as a special temporary member. At the age of 20, he won the Wyndham Championship in 2022 as a special temporary member. He became the first player born after 2000 to win a PGA Tour event and set the record as the youngest Korean winner in history (20 years, 1 month, and 18 days). He has accumulated three career victories on the PGA Tour.
Kim Joo-hyung struggled this year. He competed in 26 PGA Tour events and recorded his only top-10 finish with a tie for seventh at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in January. His world ranking in men's golf dropped from 21st at the end of last year to 107th now.
CBS Sports noted, "Kim Joo-hyung does not have eligibility for the eight signature events or the four major championships in the 2026 PGA Tour season," adding, "This is a tough reality for a 23-year-old who already has three PGA Tour wins." The outlet further pointed out, "In 2025, Kim Joo-hyung's putting was uncooperative, and his focus on swing speed with the driver led to inconsistency in direction. His iron shots were also lacking."
The publication stated, "Although there were signs of improvement toward the end of the season, Kim Joo-hyung needs to return to the form he showed at the beginning of his tour career." It also emphasized his potential for a comeback, noting, "Fortunately, he is still among the younger players on tour." The article also named Wyndham Clark, Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Tony Finau, Sahith Theegala, Max Homa, and Will Zalatoris (all from the United States) as other candidates for a comeback.
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