A mixed dose of brutal honesty and tough love from his father, Du-Ryu, has kept Kim Si-Woo well and truly grounded as he pushes to grow his legacy on the PGA Tour as one of Asia's greatest golfers.
Despite hitting fame early in his career following a string of historic achievements on golf's biggest stage, the 27-year-old Korean has not let success get to his head despite seeing his trophy shelves being filled with silverware, the latest addition being the Sony Open trophy won in Hawaii in January.
As a 17-year-old, Kim shot to prominence in 2012 by becoming the youngest player to earn a PGA Tour card through the gruelling qualifying school, which is often regarded as the hardest test in the game. He prevailed through four stages.
Fast forward to 2023 and he is now a proven four-time PGA Tour champion with over US$18 million in winnings.
He also holds the proud record as being the youngest Players Championship winner in history following a memorable triumph at TPC Sawgrass in 2017.
When Kim first arrived in the US as a fresh-faced wannabe golf star, he hardly spoke English but his command of the language has vastly improved.
After winning the Sony Open with weekend rounds of 64s, he shared an anecdote, in English, about some fatherly advice that has been the secret to him keeping his feet firmly planted in the ground despite his growing fame and fortune.
"Yeah, my dad keep talking to me, you're not the top player, so don't try to act like a top player," smiled Kim, whose four PGA Tour wins ranks him behind only countryman KJ Choi and Japan's Hideki Matsuyama, who have eight wins apiece, as Asian golfers with the most wins on the circuit.
"I think I was not good enough for the top level, like [playing against] all the top 10 players. But somehow I got lucky, like that rookie year [won the 2016 Wyndham Championship], and then the next year, won the Players."
Three-time major winner Jordan Spieth has played often enough alongside Kim to know the Korean is the real deal, and that he will be amongst the front runners to triumph again in the PGA Tour's flagship tournament, the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass which tees off tomorrow.
"Si-Woo might be the one of the most talented individuals in the game of golf and it's always been fun to watch him play," said Spieth.
Kim ended his bachelor days last December by tying the knot with Korean LPGA Tour player, Oh Ji-Hyun.
He joked that going through the wedding preparation was so nerve-racking that it would help him deal with tournament pressure when he's battling for the next win, hopefully at the Players this week.
"I was worrying so much during the preparation for the wedding and also on the wedding day. I was more nervous than in a competition," said Kim.
With Oh having been through the grind in professional golf, Kim reckons his wife's experiences will help him excel.
"We can understand each other by knowing what part of stress and pressure are, and what parts to respect each other well. I think it's comfortable because we understand each other when it comes to golf. This is really exciting, and hopefully get more confidence and more wins."
Chuah Choo Chiang is senior director, marketing and communications – APAC for the PGA Tour and is based in Kuala Lumpur.