The rain might not have entirely cleared and it is still pretty damp underfoot, but for Grace Kim, it’s all blue sky and sunshine at Coffs Harbour.
It might have been a few years between rounds for the 24-year-old, but Kim is enjoying the comfort of being back home and set to shine in this week’s Australian Women’s Classic at Coffs Harbour Golf Club.
“It’s nice to be back on home soil,” Kim smiled radiantly. “I’m really happy to be back out playing on the WPGA schedule. It’s been a while.”
For Kim, returning to compete in a Golf NSW tournament holds special significance. After playing just one Australian event last year, she welcomed the chance to reconnect with her amateur roots.
Last year, I felt the Australian Open just wasn’t enough. I’ve only played that one event last year, and I wanted to make sure I played more at home.”
Since embarking on life in the pro ranks, Kim’s journey through the sport has been remarkable. A breakthrough win in the LPGA’s Lotte Championship in 2023—remarkably in just her third professional start—catapulted her into the spotlight and established her as one of Australia’s rising stars.
“I was still a bit shocked about what happened,” Kim said. “For me to win that quickly, I just wasn’t expecting that, and then to go straight into a major, it was all a bit surreal.”
That instant early success became an emotional anchor for Kim, which she still reflects on today. “Even though it’s hard to believe at times, I try to use that as confidence. When I do feel down, I use that to say, ‘I do belong out here and I can get it done.’”
With a win under her belt in her rookie year, Kim said her 2024 campaign was as much about learning consistency as it was about winning.
“I was just speaking to my coach, and 2023 and 2024 were very similar in performance. Obviously, the win just made it a bit better….Sorry – more than a bit better,” She laughed.
After an intense schedule of 28 events in 2024, Kim has deliberately chosen to approach this year differently. For the first time in her career, she enjoyed a genuine off-season, a concept nearly foreign to someone accustomed to the year-round cadence of professional golf.
The six-week break from the clubs proved valuable for Kim’s physical development and genuine mental reset.
“I’ve never had that much time off,” Kim admits. “I went overseas with my schoolfriends and just didn’t travel with golf clubs. It was nice, really nice.”
With her 2025 Season now about to hit full speed and a rough start in China a couple of weeks ago, Kim said this week’s Australian Women’s Classic was a strategic stepping stone before she returns to the United States next week.
“It was pretty tough accepting the way I played in Asia,” she confessed. “I didn’t play very well, and things were kind of all over the shop, but I’ve got my coach Khan with me this week, so we are working on a few things.”
There’s a beautiful symmetry to Kim’s return to Coffs Harbour, a venue where she played as an amateur growing up. Though the specifics have faded somewhat, Kim said some welcome memories were flooding back. Adding to the occasion, Kim’s mother joined her on the drive from Sydney – another layer of nostalgia to the week.
“I’m known as a goldfish.
“All I remember is that photo of me on the fairway you took, and coming up by car from Sydney with my mum. It felt like my amateur, pre-pro days, just going for a drive,” she grinned
