MI-HYUN KIM
Birthdate: January 13, 1977
Birthplace: Inchon, South Korea
Age: 28
Ht: 5’1"
Home: Seoul, South Korea
College: Sun Gkyun Kwan University
Turned Professional: 1996
LPGA Tour Wins: 5 - 1999 State Farm Rail Classic, First Union Betsy King Classic, 2000 Safeway LPGA Golf Championship, 2002 Giant Eagle LPGA Classic, Wendy's Championship.
Player Notes:
Professional
2004 Highlights
• Recorded a career-high 15 top-10 finishes, including a string of six consecutive, starting with a seventh place at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in March and ending with a tie for sixth at the Franklin American Mortgage Championship benefiting Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in May, where she carded a season-low 64 during the third round.
• Best finish of the season was a tie for second at the Wegmans Rochester LPGA Presented by Lincoln Mercury; finished third at the State Farm Classic.
• Crossed the $4 million mark in career earnings with a tie for sixth at the Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill.
• Despite missing the final two events of the season due to an elbow injury, set an LPGA record for most single-season earnings ($931,693) without a victory.
2004 Stats (Rank)
Rds under par: 68/98 (3)
Rds in the 60s: 33/98 (9)
Birdies: 344 (7)
Eagles: 5 (38)
Greens in reg: 68.9% (25)
Driving accuracy: 82.3% (3)
Sand saves: 40% (44)
Putts per GIR: 1.76 (4)
Driving avg: 241.9 (133)
2003 Highlights
• Best finish was a tie for third at the Kellogg-Keebler Classic.
• Also tied for fourth at the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic Presented by ALLTEL and the Mobile LPGA Tournament of Champions and finished fifth at the Michelob Light Open at Kingsmill.
• Missed the cut at the Weetabix Women's British Open, breaking a string of 61-straight cuts made that dated back to 2001; it was her only missed cut of the 2003 season in 27 events.
• Carded a season-low 65 in the third round of the Welch's/Fry's Championship.
2003 Stats (Rank)
Rds under par: 46/96 (25) Rds in the 60s: 36/96 (8) Birdies: 314 (11)
Eagles: 3 (52)
Greens in reg: 70% (11) Driving accuracy: 82.2% (2)
Sand saves: 45.9% (12)
Putts per GIR: 1.81 (37) Driving avg: 242.3 (130)
2002 Highlights
• Won two tournaments back-to-back, both in Ohio: Giant Eagle LPGA Classic and Wendy's Championship for Children at Tartan Fields.
• Posted three runner-up finishes: finished second at the Wegmans Rochester LPGA and tied for second at the Evian Masters and State Farm Classic.
• Crossed the $3 million mark in career earnings after her win at the Wendy's Championship for Children at Tartan Fields.
• Became one of five players (an LPGA record) to earn $1 million during the season with her tie for 11th at the Sports Today CJ Nine Bridges Classic.
• Has not missed a cut since the 2001 Chick-fil-A Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez, a streak of 58 events.
2002 Stats (rank)
Rds under par: 52/98 (12)Rds in the 60s: 34/98 (5)Birdies: 318 (5)
Eagles: 3 (56)Greens in reg: 67.7% (22)Driving accuracy: 81.8% (3)
Sand saves: 51.2% (5)Putting avg: 29.30 (17)Driving avg: 243.7 (116)
2001 Highlights
• Finished second three times: lost to Annika Sorenstam in a one-hole, sudden-death playoff at The Office Depot Hosted by Amy Alcott; lost to Rosie Jones in a one-hole, sudden-death playoff at the Kathy Ireland Championship Honoring Harvey Penick; and the Weetabix Women’s British Open, where she placed behind Se Ri Pak to mark the first time Koreans have finished one-two in an LPGA major championship.
• Recorded the second hole-in-one of her career at the First Union Betsy King Classic, where she finished fifth.
• Posted a career-low 62 (-9) during the final round of the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic Presented by ALLTEL, setting a record for the lowest final-round score in LPGA history.
• Ranked first on Tour in birdies with 375.
• Crossed the $2 million mark in career earnings after the Weetabix Women’s British Open.
2001 Stats (rank)
Rds under par: 61/103 (6) Rds in the 60s: 34/103 (9)Birdies: 375 (1)
Eagles: 3 (63)Greens in reg: 68.7% (25) Driving accuracy: 75.6% (28)
Sand saves: 52% (7)Putting avg: 29.23 (4) Driving avg: 240.60 (103)
Career Highlights
• In 2000, defeated Jeong Jang on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff at the Safeway LPGA Golf Championship to claim her first playoff victory; the very next week, lost in a sudden-death playoff to Lorie Kane at the New Albany Golf Classic; crossed the $1 million mark in career earnings; won two events on the Korean LPGA Tour.
• In 1999, was named Rolex Rookie of the Year on the strength of two wins and 12 total top-10 finishes; became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the State Farm Rail Classic, then won again a month later at the First Union Betsy King Classic; recorded her first LPGA hole-in-one during the third round of the du Maurier Classic.
• In 1998, tied for 12th at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to gain exempt status for the 1999 Tour season.
From 1996-1997, competed on the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) where she won nine times.
Amateur
Kim recorded 15 victories in Korea, five while attending Yongin University. . .Started playing golf at the age of 11...Credits her father as the individual most influencing her career...Hobbies include shopping, playing pool and playing the piano.