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ENGLISH golf prodigy Kris Kim could become the Luke Littler of his own sport as he prepares to make his PGA Tour debut.
Kim, 16, caught the eye of fans around the world last year when he went unbeaten at the Junior Ryder Cup, claiming three and a half points as Team Europe thrashed Team USA 20.5 to 9.5.
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One of those points came in a win over American teen Miles Russell, 15, who last week made the cut and placed 20th at the Korn Ferry Tour’s Suncoast Classic in Florida – the youngest player to achieve a top-25 finish at that level in more than 40 years.
Surrey-based Kim also picked up victories at the Boys’ Amateur Championship, European Boys’ Individual Championship and the McGregor Trophy in 2023.
Now CJ Group, who personally sponsor Kim, have handed the talented teenager an exemption into the The CJ Cup Bryon Nelson which gets underway in Dallas, Texas on Thursday.
But while stars such as Will Zalatoris, Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott and defending champion Jason Day will take to the course focused solely on their golf, Kim is having to juggle his game with GCSE revision.
When asked about balancing the two, he said: “I am trying to revise, I promise, but it’s quite tough. My schedule is quite busy right now.”
Kim’s mum is pioneering golfer Ji-Hyun Suh who paved the way for other South Korean stars of the sport with her performances on the LPGA Tour in the 1990s.
And Ji-Hyun, who is also Kim’s coach, will be a useful source of information for her son as he looks to establish himself as a world-level player.
Kim said: “I’ll definitely ask my mum for advice. It is going to be a very different environment and you don’t know how you will respond to it. She’ll help me deal with it.
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“She’s my coach and we talk about everything from dealing with nerves, taking one shot at a time, leaving bad shots behind and keeping it simple right through to course strategy.
“My first aim is to make the cut and then see what happens. At the end of the day, I’m one of 144 competitors and we’ve all got a chance. Whatever happens, it’s going to be super helpful for my future because I’ll gain so much experience.
Who is Kris Kim’s mum Ji-Hyun Suh?
Ji-Hyun Suh began playing golf at the age of 13 and turned professional in 1998.
She earned a conditional card to the US and played there for two years but did not enjoy it as she travelled on her own and could not speak much English.
Ji-Hyun returned to Japan and played on the tour there for several years, before she packed in the sport in 2002.
After moving to the UK she became a golf teacher and returned to competition in 2014 after 12 years away.
“I know I’m still young and pretty much every week I learn a lesson, but this week is going to be a lot bigger.”
Kim is buzzing at the prospect of facing the best players in the world and will look to emulate teenage compatriot Littler, 17, who has thrived on the darts scene despite his age.
The golfing youngster added: “I’m so excited to tee it up in Texas.
“It’s what you work towards all the time and it’s an amazing opportunity.
“I can’t wait to play in front of big crowds again. I’ve never hit the ball as far as I did at the Ryder Cup. The adrenalin rush makes golf so much fun.
“That said, having played that course, and a few more tour courses, I appreciate the task ahead and look forward to the challenge.”
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Ahmed Ibrahim
Good for him