English amateur star Kris Kim is the first golfer to earn a new elite Wentworth Scholarship within the Wentworth Foundation.
Kim, who last year become the fifth youngest-ever player to make the cut in a PGA Tour event, has been revealed as the first recipient of a new elite scholarship from the Wentworth Foundation.
The teenager’s thrilling performance in last May’s THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson wowed golf audiences around the world, not least when he very nearly made a hole-in-one during his third round. But his maturity and promise had been evident in the amateur game before then.
In a superb 2023 campaign he claimed victories in the prestigious Fairhaven Trophy and the R&A’s Boys Amateur Championship, he broke a course record when winning the bronze medal with England in the European Boys Team Championship, and he won three and a half points from four matches in a resounding European Junior Ryder Cup triumph.
Under the terms of the Wentworth Foundation’s new elite scholarship, Kim will have access to the three iconic courses at Wentworth, in addition to all of the practice facilities, including the newly opened state-of-the-art Wentworth Golf Academy.
“I was so happy when I found out about the scholarship,” said Kim ahead of a thrilling fortnight in which he will make his senior debut for England and return to PGA Tour action in THE CJ CUP. “The idea of practising and playing at Wentworth every day is so cool and it will be really good for my game. I attended the BMW PGA Championship there and spent most of my time following Rory McIlroy around the course or closely watching the golfers on the range.
“To think that Rory is now a Masters champion and that I will be practising where he and the rest of the field did is just amazing. I want to take my game to the next level and Wentworth is the place for me to achieve that. I’m very excited and very grateful to everyone at the club for making it happen.”
The Wentworth Foundation was created in 1991 by the club’s former head professional, and now honorary member, Bernard Gallacher to help aspiring young golfers and tennis players in the area.
Stuart Boyle, the club manager, explains that this year’s Club Captain, Brady Rafuse, wanted the Foundation to be his charity of choice for the year and raise substantial funds to help local youngsters, charities and schools.
“The Foundation provides pre-selected, teenage golfers with complimentary membership and lessons, but our 2025 Club Captain wants to take it to the next level. Tennis has an outreach programme and we’ve introduced that for the golf section with our PGA professionals delivering lessons at local schools. We also wanted to introduce an elite level to the current programme, one that made the most of the three courses, the sensational practice facilities and our wonderful new Wentworth Golf Academy.
“I’ve travelled to most golf academies around the world and Wentworth’s is the best I’ve seen. We know Kris has huge potential. He’s a lovely lad and very mature for his age. He’s played on the PGA Tour, he knows what he’s doing. He ticks a lot of boxes.
“Wentworth can strengthen his game and we’d love to see a young golfer play in the BMW PGA Championship with the Wentworth Foundation logo on his bag. That would be a wonderful journey and we’d be proud to be a part of it.”
Wentworth also has a TaylorMade Performance Lab which will further enhance Kim’s experience because he was the first British amateur golfer to sign a NIL (name, image and likeness) contract with the brand.
Mark Thistleton, TaylorMade’s DP World Tour Director, says: “The Wentworth Foundation’s support and development of future talent such as Kris is a really positive step. The practice facilities, in particular, the new Wentworth Golf Academy is clearly a world class facility that players such as Kris will benefit from.
“As well as the facilities, he will be surrounded by a support network, including TaylorMade, that will offer him every opportunity to become a world class golfing athlete.”
He added, of Kim’s return to PGA Tour action: “His potential shone through last year. A year on, he has the chance to showcase his talents once again on the biggest stage. There will be a lot more eyes and attention on him. It’s a big learning curve and also an important development in his career.”
James Byers, CEO of Kim’s management group Trinifold Sports, says: “It has been a pleasure to work with the management team at Wentworth and their impressive Wentworth Foundation. They have shown real endeavour and embraced the opportunity to work with one of the most exciting prospects in world golf.
“Kris will be the first elite amateur to receive this new and innovative scholarship with the Wentworth Foundation, enjoying access to world class practice facilities and the three acclaimed courses. The ongoing partnership with Wentworth and TaylorMade will also be of great benefit to Kris who works closely with renowned Tour Director Mark Thistleton and the rest of the team based at Virginia Water.”