Christina Kim (born March 15, 1984) is an American professional golfer from San Jose, California, currently playing on the LPGA Tour. She is known for her animated style of play, flamboyant dress, and outgoing personaliity.
Kim won the 2004 Longs Drugs Challenge and the 2005 Mitchell Company Tournament of Champions and was a member of the winning American Solheim Cup teams in 2005 and 2009. She was the youngest player to reach $1 million in earnings, which she achieved in 2004 at age 20. This record was broken the following year by Paula Creamer.
Kim's autobiography, Swinging from My Heels: Confessions of an LPGA Star, co-written with Alan Shipnuck was published in 2010. Low self-esteem had nothing to do with the new and improved Christina Kim, who now turns heads and has people asking, "Is that you?"
Kim choreographed an offseason weight-loss program that matched her vivacious personality, hiring a posse of problem solvers that helped trim 33 pounds off her 5-6 frame.
The entourage included enough help to make a Hollywood star envious. Kim spent six weeks visiting relatives in South Korea and hired an acupuncturist, a dietician, massage therapist, personal trainer and yoga instructor. She also ran 9 miles each day, a distance she's decreased now that the season has started.
Kim wants that streamlined look to carry over into her game as she shoots for a first major title. A two-time winner on the LPGA tour, she's off to a slow start this season with ties for 13th, 49th, 55th and a missed cut.
Kim ranked 19th on the money list last year and helped lead the USA to victory in the Solheim Cup. Her intense makeover, though, was a personal challenge rather than a confidence issue.
The bill for Kim's six weeks of sweat: approximately $6,000. "I actually struck a deal with them, so I got a discount," she said. "That's with like having a 30-man team ... well, not 30, but there were a lot of people that were willing to help."
Her massage sessions literally helped beat the fat off her. Three times a week, Kim saw therapists who specialized in kyung-lak, a form of Korean massage that includes hitting certain targeted areas of the body.
They dress up, too. Upon returning from Korea, Kim joined Paula Creamer, Natalie Gulbis, Cristie Kerr and other LPGA players at Academy Awards parties thrown by Elton John and another by Rolling Stone magazine.
The Women's Senior Golf Tour has renamed itself The Legends Tour and has four tournaments on the schedule this year, concluding with the Handa Cup on Dec. 16-17 at the World Golf Village. The Handa Cup will pit a 12-player U.S. team against an International team.
