One of the PGA Tour’s most dynamic and vibrant figures has channeled his passion to achieve great things in 2026. Si Woo Kim has established himself as one of the elite players in golf this season, wrapping up what has been his most successful regular season so far.
As the youngest champion ever at The Players Championship, claiming the title at just 21, Kim has evolved. He has gone from an inconsistent golfer with high potential—whose 2017 victory at TPC Sawgrass was part of an unpredictable stretch—to a competitor who consistently finds himself in the hunt deep into Sunday afternoon.
No matter which statistic you examine, Kim is almost certainly experiencing his finest season yet. His accuracy and precision have reached unprecedented heights. He has reached peak form, securing 11 finishes inside the top 10, which includes five top-three placements and a strong bid for the title at the year’s last major, The Open Championship.
“I believe this has been the premier season of my life,” Kim remarked. “My play has been incredibly strong. My only regret is failing to secure a victory, so I am hoping to lift a trophy before the year concludes.”
These stellar performances have propelled Kim to the fourth spot in the FedEx Cup rankings as he prepares for the BMW Championship. This guarantees him a spot at the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club, marking only his third appearance there overall and his first since 2023.
“My steady play is really what has set this year apart… Even on my off days, I somehow manage to finish in the top 25,” Kim explained. “I have found a lot more regularity, and making small adjustments to my course management has made a huge difference in keeping my game stable.”
Even with such steady performances, a tournament victory has eluded Kim so far in 2026. The four-time winner on the PGA Tour has not hoisted a trophy since his triumph at the 2023 Sony Open, yet he remains unbothered by this drought.
“I would much prefer playing steadily over getting a single win paired with numerous missed cuts,” Kim stated. “I have experienced that roller coaster before—it brings nothing but stress and frustration. I am perfectly happy with this high-level consistency week in and week out, and I believe things will eventually fall into place.”
Though winning trophies remains a priority, there is a different kind of milestone Kim hopes to reach outside of official PGA Tour tournaments.
In addition to his PGA Tour drought, Kim disclosed to CBS Sports that he has never managed to defeat the world’s top-ranked golfer, Scottie Scheffler, during their friendly rounds at their mutual home course, Royal Oaks in Dallas, Texas. Though Kim has bested Scheffler in official tour stops such as the local CJ Cup Byron Nelson, the golfer shared that he is still searching for a way to claim bragging rights during their practice rounds.
In an ironic turn of events, Kim recently took second place behind Scheffler at the St. Jude Championship, finishing eight shots back in the opening event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
“A few months back, I inquired about joining his club, and he offered to connect me with the right person, which is how I ended up at the same club as Scottie,” Kim related. “We’ve been playing rounds together for a bit now. Initially, I didn’t know him all that well and felt somewhat reserved. Now, we constantly banter. Still, I haven’t managed to best him at our home course. I managed to halve two matches, but otherwise, he wins every time. He is simply unstoppable, never missing putts inside ten feet and shooting 64 on his worst days.”
When questioned if he had ever requested a handicap or extra strokes from Scheffler during their head-to-head games, Kim delivered a characteristically humorous response.
“Sure, I ask him to give me a couple of strokes on each side, but I really can’t bring myself to do it,” Kim said with a laugh. “Even though I end up losing quite a bit of cash because of it. I’d just rather not play that way, to be honest.”
