ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — IK Kim, the second player to retire this week at St. Andrews, kept the news to herself until the night before the final round. The 36-year-old called her parents, her coaches, and her best friend to let them know that Sunday’s round over the Old Course would be her last on the LPGA.
“They really tried to talk me out of it,” said Kim, noting that even the first-tee starter, Alastair Scott, implored her to come back.
After the round, a teary-eyed Kim shared the news with her good friend, R&A chief Martin Slumbers. They’d played together in a pro-am back in 2018, the year after she’d won the AIG Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns. Kim didn’t know who Slumbers was at the time but has grown to admire the way he has stewarded the Royal and Ancient, particularly when it came to women’s golf and environmental efforts. Kim told Slumbers years ago that she wouldn’t retire until she played Muirfield, the historic club she’d only read about.
“When I did, I felt so satisfied,” she said of the 2022 championship, “and at the same time, I wasn’t sure what I want to do with my life.”
So she carried on.
The shy and cerebral Kim, now in her 18th year as a professional golfer, didn’t pause when she walked over the Swilcan Bridge this morning. Media officials convinced her to come back hours after her round had concluded to talk about a career that included seven victories and one of the most painful short misses in the game’s history at the 2012 ANA Inspiration.
For a long time, Kim’s career was defined by a 14-inch putt. She hired mental coaches, including Vision54 and a sports psychologist who worked with NASA. She couldn’t escape questions about the putt that cost her a major title. Even strangers would cry in front of her about it. Understandably, she wasn’t sure how to react to that.
But she learned over the years to be more compassionate toward herself. A brave Kim came over to the U.S. by herself as a teenager without knowing any English. She’d convinced her father that she’d have more fun competing in America.
After a few short months she’d won a USGA championship, dusting Inbee Park 5 and 4 in the final match of the 2005 U.S. Girls’ Junior.
With the help of her host parents, rapper 50 Cent and American reality television, Kim’s language barrier began to crumble, and three years later, she won her first title on the LPGA.
In 2010, Kim made headlines when she donated her entire winner’s check, – $220,000 – from the 2010 Lorena Ochoa Invitational. She gave half to the Lorena Ochoa Foundation, which focuses on education for the underprivileged, and half to an American charity.
As an ambassador for the Special Olympics, she donated $100,000 to help expand golf’s presence in the games.
The charitable Kim isn’t sure what’s next, but, as a woman with many interests, it won’t be hard for her to find something else that’s fulfilling.
“I’m most proud of the hard work that I’ve put into,” said Kim. “I wasn’t the most talented or the most gifted, but I loved the game. I was willing to travel anywhere to play golf and learn the game, and I wanted to thank all the girls here. I’ve learned so much from them.”
Kim teared up as she talked about the relationships she’s made on tour. She’d had a good cry session with former No. 1 Yani Tseng earlier in the day.
“I just want to say thank you to everyone,” said a heartfelt Kim. “My career has been a lot of up and down, but you guys made it all beautiful.”
• • •
Here’s a look back on IK Kim’s career in photos:
AIG Women’s Open – Day Two
In Kyung Kim of South Korea tees off on the 18th hole during Day Two of…
In Kyung Kim of South Korea tees off on the 18th hole during Day Two of the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews Old Course on August 23, 2024 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
AIG Women’s Open – Day One
In Kyung Kim of South Korea tees off on the first hole during Day One of…
In Kyung Kim of South Korea tees off on the first hole during Day One of the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews Old Course on August 22, 2024 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)
AIG Women’s Open – Day One
In Kyung Kim of South Korea tees off on the 12th hole during Day One of…
In Kyung Kim of South Korea tees off on the 12th hole during Day One of the AIG Women’s Open at St Andrews Old Course on August 22, 2024 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Ricoh Women’s British Open – Day Four
In-Kyung Kim of Korea poses with the trophy following her victory during the final round of…
In-Kyung Kim of Korea poses with the trophy following her victory during the final round of the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns Golf Links on August 6, 2017 in Kingsbarns, Scotland. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
AIG Women’s Open – Day One
In-Kyung Kim of South Korea plays her second shot on the 18th hole during Day One…
In-Kyung Kim of South Korea plays her second shot on the 18th hole during Day One of the AIG Women’s Open at Muirfield on August 4, 2022 in Gullane, Scotland. (Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)
HSBC Women’s World Championship – Day Two
In Kyung Kim of South Korea plays her shot from the 13th tee during the second…
In Kyung Kim of South Korea plays her shot from the 13th tee during the second round of the HSBC Women’s World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club on April 30, 2021 in Singapore. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
Taiwan Swinging Skirts LPGA Presented By CTBC – Round Three
In-Kyung Kim of South Korea tees off at the 2nd hole during the third round of…
In-Kyung Kim of South Korea tees off at the 2nd hole during the third round of the Taiwan Swinging Skirts LPGA Presented By CTBC at Miramar Golf Country Club on November 2, 2019 in New Taipei City, Taiwan. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)
HUGEL-AIR PREMIA LA Open – Round One
In-Kyung Kim of South Korea plays her shot from the 11th tee during round one of…
In-Kyung Kim of South Korea plays her shot from the 11th tee during round one of the HUGEL-AIR PREMIA LA Open at Wilshire Country Club on April 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
UL International Crown – Day 4
(L go R) Sung Hyun Park, So Yoen Ryu, In Gee Chun and In-Kyung Kim of…
(L go R) Sung Hyun Park, So Yoen Ryu, In Gee Chun and In-Kyung Kim of South Korea pose for photographs with the trophy after winning the UL International Crown at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club on October 7, 2018 in Incheon, South Korea. (Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images)
Ricoh Women’s British Open – Day Two
In-kyung Kim of South Korea prepares to play a shot on 5th green during day two…
In-kyung Kim of South Korea prepares to play a shot on 5th green during day two of Ricoh Women’s British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes on August 3, 2018 in Lytham St Annes, England. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Ricoh Women’s British Open – Day Four
In-Kyung Kim of Korea poses with the trophy following her victory during the final round of…
In-Kyung Kim of Korea poses with the trophy following her victory during the final round of the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns Golf Links on August 6, 2017 in Kingsbarns, Scotland. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
Omega Dubai Ladies Classic – Previews
In-Kyung Kim of South Korea in action during the pro-am for the 2017 Dubai Ladies Classic…
In-Kyung Kim of South Korea in action during the pro-am for the 2017 Dubai Ladies Classic on the Majlis Course at The Emirates Golf Club as a preview for the 2017 Omega Dubai Ladies Classic, on December 5, 2017 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
2016 Reignwood LPGA Classic – Day 4(Final)
In-Kyung Kim of Korea imitates a selfie as she poses with the trophy after winning The…
In-Kyung Kim of Korea imitates a selfie as she poses with the trophy after winning The 2016 Reignwood LPGA Classic on October 2, 2016 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images)
Dow Championship – Final Round
In Kyung Kim of South Korea
In Kyung Kim of South Korea
reacts after Haeji Kang of South Korea shot on the fifth green during the final round of the Dow Championship at Midland Country Club on June 30, 2024 in Midland, Michigan. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
LPGA Portraits
In-Kyung Kim of South Korea poses for a portrait on March 22, 2011 at the Industry…
In-Kyung Kim of South Korea poses for a portrait on March 22, 2011 at the Industry Hills Golf Club in the City of Industry, California. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
ShopRite – Final Round
In-Kyung Kim of South Korea holds the championship trophy after winning the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented…
In-Kyung Kim of South Korea holds the championship trophy after winning the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer on the Bay Course at Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club on June 4, 2017 in Galloway, New Jersey. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
UL International Crown – Day 2
In-Kyung Kim of South Korea smiles after a tee shot on the 5th hole in the…
In-Kyung Kim of South Korea smiles after a tee shot on the 5th hole in the Pool A match between South Korea and Australia on day two of the UL International Crown at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club on October 5, 2018 in Incheon, South Korea. (Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images)
Evian Championship 2017 – Day Three
So Yeon Ryu of South Korea; Danielle Kang of USA, Annika Sorenstam, Sung Hyun Park of…
So Yeon Ryu of South Korea; Danielle Kang of USA, Annika Sorenstam, Sung Hyun Park of South Korea and In-Kyung Kim of South Korea pose for a picture at the Rolex Annika Awards ceremony after the second round of The Evian Championship 2017 at Evian Resort Golf Club on September 16, 2017 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Ricoh Women’s British Open – Day Three
In-Kyung Kim of Korea signs autographs during the third round of the Ricoh Women’s British Open…
In-Kyung Kim of Korea signs autographs during the third round of the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns Golf Links on August 5, 2017 in Kingsbarns, Scotland. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
GOLF-GBR-OPEN-WOMEN
Korea’s In-Kyung Kim watches her approach shot from the 17th fairway during her third round on…
Korea’s In-Kyung Kim watches her approach shot from the 17th fairway during her third round on day 3 of the 2017 Women’s British Open Golf Championship at Kingsbarns Golf Links near St. Andrews, east Scotland, on August 5, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Andy BUCHANAN (Photo credit should read ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)
Kraft Nabisco Championship – Final Round
I.K. Kim of South Korea reacts after missing a one foot putt on the 18th hole…
I.K. Kim of South Korea reacts after missing a one foot putt on the 18th hole which would have given her the tournament win in regulation during the final round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship at Mission Hills Country Club on April 1, 2012 in Rancho Mirage, California. Kim went on the lose on the first playoff hole to Sun Young Yoo. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Kraft Nabisco Championship – Final Round
I.K. Kim of South Korea reacts after missing a one foot putt on the 18th hole…
I.K. Kim of South Korea reacts after missing a one foot putt on the 18th hole which would have given her the tournament win in regulation during the final round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship at Mission Hills Country Club on April 1, 2012 in Rancho Mirage, California. Kim went on the lose on the first playoff hole to Sun Young Yoo. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
