Michael Kim

Michael Kim returns to The Open for a fourth time this summer after securing a spot courtesy of his world ranking.

A T2 finish at the Valero Texas Open in April saw the 32-year-old, who will turn 33 two days before the first round gets under way at Royal Birkdale, rise to 43rd in the world.

From there, a series of solid finishes have maintained Kim’s position inside the world’s top 50.

Kim won for the first time on the DP World Tour when he claimed the Open de France in 2025, seven months after finishing T2 at the WM Pheonix Open.

Kim competed at Royal Portrush last year, a place also achieved through his world ranking, having previously missed out on a spot in County Antrim at the Arnold Palmer Invitational by the narrowest of margins.

There, one place was available as part of the Open Qualifying Series; Kim finished fourth, but third-placed Corey Conners pipped him for the qualifying spot.

Kim’s previous appearances prior to that were in 2018 – he qualified then by winning the previous week’s John Deere Classic by a massive eight-stroke margin and a tournament record 27-under-par total – where he finished a career-best T35, and in 2023 thanks to his performance at the Wells Fargo Championship.

Although born in South Korea, Kim was raised in San Diego and took American citizenship. He was named college player of the year in 2013 and in the same month, having qualified for the US Open at Merion, finished as low amateur in joint 17th place, nine shots behind winner Justin Rose.

That same year Kim was part of the victorious United States Walker Cup team alongside Justin Thomas and Max Homa, and against Matt Fitzpatrick, winning all his three matches.