'A Star Is Born'... 14-Year-Old Kim Sua

Long Drives Up to 290 Yards in Pro Tournament
World-Class Role Models: Rory McIlroy and Nelly Korda
"I Am Determined to Wear the Taegeuk Mark"

A new generation star has emerged. The spotlight is on Kim Seoa, a second-year student at Shinsung Middle School. Born in January 2012, this 14-year-old golf prospect is already being recognized as a rising icon who could lead Korean women’s golf in the future.

On April 5, Kim Seoa made waves at the KLPGA Tour domestic season opener, The Siena Open (total prize money 1 billion won), held at The Siena Belluto Country Club (par 72, 6,586 yards) in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province. Kim Seoa finished tied for fourth place (9-under-par 279) alongside Jo Ahyeon, delivering an impressive performance.

She started playing golf in the fifth grade of elementary school and has been noted for her long-distance shots ever since. Last September, she drew attention with her powerful drives at the KLPGA Tour major tournament, the HiteJinro Championship. Kim Seoa said, "Watching big hitters made me want to become a player like them." She once again captured attention at The Siena Open with her dynamic long drives. Even among professional players, she maintained an aggressive style without being intimidated.

Middle school girl golfer Kim Seoa is hitting a powerful tee shot at the KLPGA Tour The Siena Open. Provided by KLPGA

Kim Seoa is a fan of Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) and Nelly Korda (USA), both renowned for their driving distance on the world tour. They are her role models. She invests a lot of time in building her long game. "I practice my swing using heavy equipment and items that create wind resistance," she revealed, "and I continue these drills both during the off-season and throughout the season."

At The Siena Open, Kim Seoa reached a maximum of 290 yards with her driver. Her average driving distance is 265 yards—well above the KLPGA Tour average. Her bold strategy of targeting the green in two on par-5 holes stood out. Her next goal is to surpass 300 yards in driving distance. She also received high marks for her play on the green. Many commented that “her age of 14 seems irrelevant to her performance.”

Kim Seoa uses a TaylorMade Qi4D driver, known for its forgiveness and stable ball flight. She maintained a high fairway hit rate and scored birdies. Her putter is TaylorMade’s new SYSTM2 Juno L-Neck, which provides sharp alignment and consistent face control.

“Every time I hit a powerful tee shot, the cheers from the gallery made the experience really fun,” Kim Seoa shared. “I managed the course even more aggressively and boldly, thinking that I had nothing to lose,” she added. “Golf is such an attractive sport—the more I play, the happier I become. I want to improve my weaknesses, become a national team member, and earn the Taegeuk mark by accumulating points in many tournaments,” she expressed with determination.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.