Australia’s Grace Kim arrives at Royal Porthcawl as a newly minted major winner, but despite the fanfare, she’s still the same fun, grounded Aussie we know.
Grace Kim’s life changed forever just 17 days ago when she produced one of the most thrilling finishes in major championship history to win the Amundi Evian Championship.
Now carrying the unofficial title of “Major Champion Grace Kim”, she’s juggling increased media attention and plenty of extra eyeballs as she prepares for the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl. Yet, anyone who has met Kim will recognise the same familiar Grace.
Always quick to support her fellow Australian LPGA Tour players and warm to everyone she meets, Kim’s rising profile saw her join stars like Jeeno Thitikul, Nelly Korda, Charley Hull and others on stage for a press conference ahead of the year’s final major.
The 22-year-old’s honest and often funny answers to media questions - on everything from the Aussie contingent to life away from golf - highlighted a personality which might just outshine even her world-class game.
“I don't think it has changed all that much,” she said when asked how her life has shifted since the win, perhaps downplaying what’s to come.
“Obviously people coming up to you and saying congratulations is really nice, but at the same time, when people put the two words ‘major champion’ in front, it's still quite hard to believe.
“I mean, I'm still the same me. So nothing much has changed.”
That “same me” admitted to plenty of doom scrolling, aka the accidental deep dive into endless social media feeds, as well as “a lot of sleeping and eating” during her downtime. All classic signs of a young Aussie traveller… except Kim is doing it while teeing it up against the world’s best for a US$9.75 million prize pool and a winner’s cheque of $1.46 million.
Recalling her drive from Scotland after missing the cut last week, Kim laughed about her first brush with Welsh culture.
“I saw all the signs. It went from English to – not in a rude way, but like, gibberish,” she joked. “Just to make the road trip fun, we were trying to say the words, and it was impossible.”
While she avoided the video challenge of pronouncing Wales’ famously long place names, Kim was the star of another viral clip: the ecstatic reaction of her fellow Aussies after her playoff chip-in for birdie in France. She has watched it more than once, trying to take in what she’s achieved.
The win brought with it a wave of new Instagram followers and messages, including one from Greg Norman. Her mentor Karrie Webb even Facetimed her, admitting she “never jumped so high and screamed at the TV”.
The support has extended well beyond the tight-knit Australian crew, nine strong in this week’s field and even turned some British fans into Aussie supporters.
“Most countries are very jealous of our camaraderie and our friendship,” Kim said. “I think that’s the best answer you can get this week, so I’ll take that.”
“Being an Aussie is very cool, and being part of this friendship group is also cool. We get along well, we banter, and we don’t take it to heart. I think that’s why the bond is so strong.”
That bond will be on display again this week, especially if the Aussies can complete a rare hat-trick of women’s major wins, following Minjee Lee and now Grace Kim.
AIG WOMEN'S OPEN
Royal Porthcawl Golf Club, Porthcawl, Wales
Recent champion: Lydia Ko
Past Aussie winners: Corinne Dibnah (1988), Karen Lunn (1993), Karrie Webb (1995, 1997, 2002)
Prize money: US$9.5 million in 2024 with announcement of 2025 Wednesday
TV times: Live 9pm-4am Thursday, Friday; Live 9:45pm-4am Saturday; Live 9pm-4am Sunday on Fox Sports 505 and Kayo Sports.
Australasians in the field ...
Karis Davidson
World ranking: 220
Past AIG Women’s Open appearances: Nil
Best AIG Women’s Open finish: N/A
LPGA Tour wins: 0
LPGA major wins: 0
Best finish in 2025: T7, Meijer LPGA Classic
Amelia Garvey (NZ)
World ranking: 248
Past AIG Women’s Open appearances: Nil
Best AIG Women’s Open finish: N/A
LPGA Tour wins: 0
LPGA major wins: 0
Best finish in 2025: 3rd, Women’s Irish Open
Hannah Green
World ranking: 11
Past AIG Women’s Open appearances: 7
Best AIG Women’s Open finish: T16 in 2019
LPGA Tour wins: 6
LPGA major wins: 1
Best finish in 2025: T4, Founders Cup
Grace Kim
World ranking: 26
Past AIG Women’s Open appearances: 2
Best AIG Women’s Open finish: T36 in 2023
LPGA Tour wins: 2
LPGA major wins: 1
Best finish in 2025: Won, Amundi Evian Championship
Lydia Ko (NZ)
World ranking: 3
Past AIG Women’s Open appearances: 13
Best AIG Women’s Open finish: Won in 2024
LPGA Tour wins: 23
LPGA major wins: 3
Best finish in 2025: Won, HSBC Women’s World Championship
Momoka Kobori (NZ)
World ranking: 270
Past AIG Women’s Open appearances: Nil
Best AIG Women’s Open finish: N/A
LPGA Tour wins: 0
LPGA major wins: 0
Best finish in 2025: T4, Dutch Ladies Open
Stephanie Kyriacou
World ranking: 42
Past AIG Women’s Open appearances: 5
Best AIG Women’s Open finish: T7 in 2022
LPGA Tour wins: 0
LPGA major wins: 0
Best finish in 2025: T5, Mizuho Americas Open
Minjee Lee
World ranking: 5
Past AIG Women’s Open appearances: 11
Best AIG Women’s Open finish: 3rd in 2020
LPGA Tour wins: 11
LPGA major wins: 3
Best finish in 2025: Won, KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
Hira Naveed
World ranking: 141
Past AIG Women’s Open appearances: 1
Best AIG Women’s Open finish: MC in 2024
LPGA Tour wins: 0
LPGA major wins: 0
Best finish in 2025: T8, Mizuho Americas Open
Cassie Porter
World ranking: 178
Past AIG Women’s Open appearances: 0
Best AIG Women’s Open finish: N/A
LPGA Tour wins: 0
LPGA major wins: 0
Best finish in 2025: 4th, Blue Bay LPGA
Kirsten Rudgeley
World ranking: 162
Past AIG Women’s Open appearances: 0
Best AIG Women’s Open finish: N/A
LPGA Tour wins: 0
LPGA major wins: 0
Best finish in 2025: T2, Women’s NSW Open
Gabriela Ruffels
World ranking: 63
Past AIG Women’s Open appearances: 2
Best AIG Women’s Open finish: MC in 2020, 2024
LPGA Tour wins: 0
LPGA major wins: 0
Best finish in 2025: T9, Amundi Evian Championship
