'Long Drive Queen' Kim Arim "I am happy because of golf"

Defending Champion Ready for KLPGA Championship
Houston → Yangju → Florida → New Jersey Busy Schedule
Role Model Sorensdam: "I Will Follow the Path of the Golf Queen"

The body is tired, but the expression is bright.

This is the story of ‘Long Drive Queen’ Kim Arim. Kim Arim, who is playing on the U.S. Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour, has returned to Korea briefly. She came back to participate as the defending champion in the 45th KLPGA Championship presented by Chris F&C (total prize money 1.3 billion KRW), a major tournament on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, which opened on the 27th at the Lakewood Country Club’s Mountain Path and Forest Path courses in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province (par 72, 6,570 yards). Kim Arim laughed in an interview with Asia Economy on the 26th, saying, "The week is going to pass by really hectic."

Kim Arim said, "I really enjoy playing golf," and added, "I want to be a player who is satisfied with the process, not the result."

After finishing the LPGA Tour major Chevron Championship on the 24th, Kim Arim immediately headed home and arrived at Incheon International Airport at 5 p.m. on the 25th. She moved straight to the tournament venue and did recovery exercises for two hours starting at 8 p.m. On the 26th, she checked her shots early and then played a 9-hole practice round starting at 11:30 a.m. She also participated in a photocall and interviews, and has been competing in the tournament since the 27th. Kim Arim said, "After the tournament, I also have to visit my sponsor Hanwha Q CELLS for profile photos and meetings," adding, "I have a tight schedule as I will fly back to Florida, where my home is, on May 2." After recharging in Florida, she will move to New Jersey for the Founders Cup.

Kim Arim’s friends are highly skilled. Ko Jin-young, Kim Hyo-joo, Baek Kyu-jung, and Kim Min-sun are all born in 1995, the same age as Kim Arim. She said, "In my view, they are golf geniuses," and added, "Having friends who are players I can learn a lot from is a great help." Regarding Kim Hyo-joo, Kim Arim said, "She is a master. There is nothing she can’t do," and praised her by saying, "She is thoughtful. Even though she is a friend, she is impressive." About Ko Jin-young, she said, "She is a player with clear goals," and "She has strong willpower."

Compared to her friends, Kim Arim had a tougher time. After becoming a full member in 2013, she went through the qualifying tournaments for two consecutive years but faced bitter disappointment. Kim Arim confessed, "I cried a lot when I failed the qualifying tournaments," and "I also shed tears when I missed the top prize money spot on the Dream Tour." In 2015, she won four times on the Dream Tour and ranked second in prize money (76.06 million KRW), earning her card for the regular tour. She joined the first division tour in 2016 and tasted her first victory at the 2018 Park Se-ri Invitational. She accumulated three domestic wins with the 2019 MY Munyoung Queens Park Championship and last year’s KLPGA Championship.

Kim Arim is a refreshing player who aggressively hunts eagles and birdies with powerful long drives.

Kim Arim’s main weapon is her powerful long drive. She was crowned ‘Long Drive Queen’ on the KLPGA Tour for three consecutive years from 2018 to 2020. On the LPGA Tour, she ranked 5th with an average drive of 276.76 yards in 2021, 5th with 274.74 yards last year, and 7th with 273.77 yards this year. Kim Arim emphasized, "To hit long drives, body management is important," and "You have to make the most of your strengths." Kim Arim has long arms and legs, a large swing arc, and good coil. She said, "I practiced hitting hard from a young age," and confidently stated, "I’m not afraid when hitting driver shots."

There is a tournament where Kim Arim left a strong impression on golf fans. It was the 2018 Doosan Match Play Championship. She finished as runner-up after a fierce battle in the final against ‘Golf Empress’ Park In-bee. At that time, she made headlines for generously conceding a putt. Kim Arim smiled and said, "I thought the putt wasn’t long, so I conceded. Later, I realized it was nearly 2 meters," adding, "My professor and coach scolded me."

Kim Arim remembers the head-to-head match with Park In-bee. She was surprised by the gallery’s cheers when Park In-bee made her tee shot. Kim Arim recalled, "It was on a different level," and "I felt a bit intimidated, so I played with even more fighting spirit." She explained that the Doosan Match Play Championship was a turning point for her growth, saying, "Now, even with a large gallery, I don’t get nervous," showing how she developed a strong heart. In 2019, Kim Arim signed with Park In-bee’s management company and became part of the same family.

Kim Arim’s role model is Annika Sorenstam from Sweden. Annika won an incredible 11 times on the LPGA Tour in 2002 alone and amassed a total of 72 wins. She was the original ‘Golf Empress,’ holding the world No. 1 ranking for 60 consecutive weeks. Kim Arim expressed her admiration, saying, "The person I respect the most is Sorenstam. I really like her," and "To me, she is a true golf empress. Her level is different, and her aura is amazing." She added, "Watching Sorenstam made me want to play on tour for a long time," and "My dream is to follow Sorenstam’s path."

Kim Arim is a hard worker. She employs a personal trainer and undergoes various training to improve her performance. She especially focuses on building stamina, training her body all week long. She is also learning English and studying about the body. She continuously researches technical aspects as well. Kim Arim said, "Except for sleeping and eating, I only think about golf." She has also developed a mature mindset, saying, "I have never played with the goal of winning," and added, "It’s important to have the attitude of doing everything I can and then going out to compete."

Kim Arim prepared seriously for the Chevron Championship. She skipped the Lotte Championship held in Hawaii just before the tournament and started practical training early at the battleground. She hoped for her second LPGA Tour win since the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open. Kim Arim was tied for the lead after reducing two strokes in the front nine of the final round but lost one stroke each on the 11th and 13th holes, falling behind in the race for the championship. She finished tied for 4th place.

Kim Arim is eagerly looking forward to next year’s Chevron Championship. She has gained confidence that she can perform better. She said, "The course is long, and the greens are hard and fast. It’s a course favorable to me, who can control trajectory with long drives," and "I think I have two to three times more chances to directly attack the pin compared to other players. I learned a lot this year, so I’m looking forward to next year’s tournament."

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