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Sei Young Kim, a 27-year old with five years of experience on the LPGA Tour, had always performed well in major championships. She only missed three cuts in 28 events, with eight top-ten finishes, seven of those in the top five and two runners-up. However, a major title eluded her. That all changed at this year’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, finishing at –14 for a five-shot victory. For Kim, the win was her 16th as a professional, 11 of them on the LPGA Tour.

2013–2014

Kim got into the winner’s circle for the first time professionally on the LPGA Korea Tour in 2013, winning the Lotte Marte Women’s Open in April by two strokes. She earned her second victory six months later at the Hanwha Finance Classic and her third just a week later. She finished third in the dually sanctioned LPGA and KLPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship in 2013. After two more victories in 2014, Kim earned Priority List Category 12 status for the 2015 season after tying for ninth at the 2014 LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament.

2015

Kim burst onto the LPGA scene in 2015, winning three times, the first two coming in playoffs over LPGA dynamos Ariya Jutanugarn and Inbee Park. In 27 events, Kim made 25 cuts and finished fourth on the money list with over $1.8 million. She also earned the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year and won the Kia Most Compelling Performance Award.

2016

Proving that 2015 was not a fluke, Kim won two more times with two second-place finishes and nine top-ten finishes in 2016. Her 21 cuts made in 25 events earned her just over $1.4 million, sixth on the money list. As a member of Korea at the UL International Crown, she posted a 3-1-0 record. In addition, Kim represented Korea at the Olympic Games in Rio, posting a solid tie for 25th finish.

2017

Remaining remarkably consistent, Kim made 22 cuts in 25 events in 2017. She finished $1.3 million for 10th on the money list. Nearly 40 percent of her starts resulted in a top ten finish and her sixth LPGA win came at the Lorena Ochoa Match Play, defeating Ariya Jutanugarn 1-up.

2018

Kim set the LPGA’s 72-hole scoring record by shooting a 31-under par 257 at the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic, breaking the previous mark she had held along with Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam. Her round of 61 at the ShopRite LPGA Classic was a career low. All told, Kim missed only three cuts in 27 events and finished seventh on the money list with just under $1.4 million in earnings.

2019

The finest season of Kim’s career so far was in 2019, winning three times — including the CME Group Tour Championship. She ranked fourth in birdies and tied her career-low score during the second round of the Cambia Portland Classic. Kim shattered her previous career-high in season earning with over $2.7 million, good for second on the money list.

2020

Kim has four top tens and a Major victory this season! She currently sits seventh in the Rolex World Golf Rankings and has earned over $9.5 million through her career. Congratulations, Sei Young Kim!