S.H. Kim Shakes Up the Korn Ferry Tour, Secures PGA TOUR Spot

, September 30, 2025

News Summary

S.H. Kim has solidified his position on the PGA TOUR for the upcoming season after a thrilling performance in the Korn Ferry Tour. With consistent top finishes and a championship win, Kim’s achievements reflect a remarkable journey in golf. His story emphasizes resilience, as he rises through the ranks despite several challenges and uncertainties. As the race for 2026 spots continues, his success will inspire fans and players alike.

Changwon — S.H. Kim Shakes Up the Korn Ferry Tour and Nails a 2026 PGA TOUR Spot

Big swings, big story

The golf world got a shot of adrenaline as S.H. Kim stamped his ticket for the big leagues. S.H. Kim has achieved #TOURBound status, securing his PGA TOUR membership for the 2026 season. It’s the kind of finish that makes fans jump out of their seats — a comeback narrative stitched together by a late-season charge and a steady string of top results.

This wasn’t just a solo sprint. Kim is the sixth member from the Korn Ferry Tour to reach this milestone. For a player who has already seen ups and downs, this is another chapter in a career that’s been anything but ordinary.

The results that mattered

Kim claimed his first Korn Ferry Tour title at the 2025 AdventHealth Championship in May. That victory kicked open doors and delivered the kind of confidence that ripples through the rest of a season. He also kept the pressure on with consistent play: The golfer from Changwon, South Korea also achieved runner-up finishes at the 2025 The Bahamas Golf Classic and the 118th VISA Argentina Open in March.

The numbers add up. Throughout the 2025 season, Kim recorded five top-10 finishes in 16 events, accumulating 1,343 points. Even with a hiccup toward the end, Despite missing the last two events, he maintained his ranking at No. 6 on the Korn Ferry Tour Points List. That kind of cushion is what turns close calls into secured spots.

Where he came from — and how he made it

The journey began young. Kim turned professional in December 2017 at the age of 19. He cut his teeth overseas: He began his career on the Japan Golf Tour and ACN Tour in 2019. A few years later, the breakthrough that made everyone take notice arrived: Kim’s breakthrough came in 2020 with a win at the KPGA Championship as an open qualifier. That wasn’t just a trophy — He became the first open qualifier in history to win on the KPGA Tour.

Momentum followed. In 2021, Kim won the Japan PGA Championship, one of Japan Golf Tour’s major championships. And he didn’t stop there: He successfully navigated the stages of the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament (now known as PGA TOUR Q-School) in 2021 to gain membership for the 2022 season.

As a rookie on the Korn Ferry Tour, As a Korn Ferry Tour rookie, Kim finished in the top 25 of the 2022 Korn Ferry Tour Points List, earning his PGA TOUR membership. He tasted life on the PGA TOUR and kept fighting: In the 2023 season, Kim was ranked No. 68 in the FedExCup Fall standings, supported by a runner-up finish at the Procore Championship. A year later he faced a setback but stayed hungry: After placing No. 130 in the 2024 FedExCup Fall standings, he aimed to regain PGA TOUR membership in the 2025 season through the Korn Ferry Tour.

What’s at stake for the rest of the tour

The 2025 run still has drama to play out. The 2025 Korn Ferry Tour season features the Compliance Solutions Championship, the third of four season-ending events. And the stakes are clear: The top 20 players after the final Korn Ferry Tour Championship will secure PGA TOUR membership for the 2026 season. There’s extra juice for the top dog: The player with the most points at the end of the season will earn exemptions for the 2026 PLAYERS Championship and U.S. Open.

Right now, it’s a tight leaderboard. Johnny Keefer currently leads the Korn Ferry Tour Points List with 2,207 points. The chase will lock in soon: The official points list will finalize following the Korn Ferry Tour Championship scheduled for October 9-12, 2025, at French Lick Golf Resort in Indiana.

Bottom line

For fans who love comeback tales, S.H. Kim has achieved #TOURBound status, securing his PGA TOUR membership for the 2026 season. He’s back where he wants to be, and the rest of the Korn Ferry Tour field is still scrapping for those final spots and big exemptions. Expect drama, big shots and a few surprise finishes as the season wraps.

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• Tulsa World: S.H. Kim Shakes Up the Korn Ferry Tour
• PGA Tour: Harry Higgs Tour Bound
• PGA Tour: How the Korn Ferry Tour Works
• Golf News Net: 2025 Korn Ferry Tour Finals Format
• Golf News Net: Korn Ferry Tour Hub
• Wikipedia: Korn Ferry Tour
• Google Search: Korn Ferry Tour
• Google Scholar: Korn Ferry Tour
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Korn Ferry Tour
• Google News: Korn Ferry Tour

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