Kim Siwoo Grows a Beard, and as Long as He Plays Well... an "Intriguing Jinx"

Growing a beard since December to transform his image
In contention for the title in four straight PGA Tour events
Woods and Kim Seiyoung favor red, Matsuyama prefers yellow
Choosing No. 1 and No. 3 balls, avoiding No. 2 and No. 4

Kim Siwoo is known for his clean-cut image. Along with his solid golf skills, his gentle appearance has earned him the nickname "Little Prince." This is one of the reasons he enjoys great popularity on the PGA Tour. He has maintained steady progress with a total of four wins on the PGA Tour.

Recently, there has been a change for Kim Siwoo. Instead of his trademark neat look, he has grown a beard, giving himself a much tougher image. The change began at the DP World Tour ISPS HANDA Australian Open last December. Kim Siwoo said with a laugh, "I was too lazy to shave, so I decided to grow it out, and then my results started to improve. So I just kept it."

Kim Siwoo has been performing well after growing a beard. AFP and Yonhap News

His performance has risen along with the beard. In all four tournaments he has played this season, he has been in contention for the title, finishing runner-up once and third once, and placing in the top 10 three times. Even in the event where he missed the top 10, he finished in a tie for 11th, which was still very solid.

These strong results have led to a rise in his world ranking. At the end of last year he was ranked 47th, but after tying for third at last week's WM Phoenix Open, he climbed to 26th. This is a new personal best, surpassing his previous career-high of 28th in 2017. Expectations are also growing for his first win in three years since the Sony Open in January 2023. For Kim Siwoo, his beard has quickly become a "good-luck jinx."

Woods Tiger wears a red shirt and black bottoms on the final day of the tournament. AP Yonhap News

There are many different jinxes on the golf tours. The most famous example is "golf emperor" Tiger Woods and his red shirt. On every final day, he wears a red shirt and black pants, exuding intense charisma. For his playing partners, it is a symbol of what is often called the "red fear." This choice is known to have originated from advice his Thai mother Kultida received from an astrologer. Woods has racked up 82 career wins, including 15 majors.

Kim Seiyoung also likes to wear red. True to her nickname, "the magician in red pants," she chooses a white top and red pants for the final round. "I was inspired by Woods," she said, adding, "When I wear red, I feel more confident." Kim Seiyoung has 13 wins on the LPGA Tour.

Matsuyama Hideki chooses a yellow top on the final day of the tournament. AFP Yonhap News Agency

Matsuyama Hideki of Japan often wears a yellow shirt. Its symbolism grew after he became the first Asian player to win the Masters in 2021. He also chose a yellow shirt at last week's WM Phoenix Open, but he dropped one shot on the final 18th hole and lost in a playoff to Chris Gotterup of the United States.

There are also jinxes related to golf ball numbers. Jack Nicklaus is famous for insisting on using the No. 4 ball, in contrast to most players who prefer the No. 1 ball, which is associated with "winning." Yang Yongun has a special attachment to the No. 3 ball he used when he won the 2009 PGA Championship.

Kim Hyoju uses the ball that corresponds to the tournament round. AFP Yonhap News

Kim Hyojoo uses balls whose numbers match the round number: No. 1 on the first day, No. 2 on the second day, and so on. She does not mind using the No. 2 ball, which most players tend to avoid. By contrast, Ryu Sooyeon is well known for avoiding the No. 2 ball, saying, "I hate finishing second the most." Shin Jiyai cares more about the condition of the ball than the number, and immediately replaces it if there is any scratch.

Food is no exception. Eggs are avoided because they are associated with "breaking easily." Park Heeyoung is famous for her "egg jinx." Many players also stay away from seaweed soup because it brings to mind "slipping." Hong Soonsang avoids seaweed soup on competition days. On the other hand, while Choi Kyungju normally enjoys Korean food, he keeps a routine of choosing Western food for breakfast on the day of a round.

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