Player Interview: Taylor Kim

Taylor Kim at the 2011 Spirit International

Taylor Kim played for Team Canada at the 2011 Spirit International. The British Columbia native is heading down to Austin, Texas this fall where she will play for the University of Texas Women's Golf Team. We caught up with Taylor to hear more about her game, her interests and how she feels about becoming a Longhorn.

Thanks for talking with us today, Taylor and congrats on signing with the University of Texas! What are you looking forward to the most about being a Longhorn?

First of all, the University of Texas is known as the top athletic school in the world. I love the city Austin in Texas and the school spirit is amazing. I’m really looking forward to enjoying playing college golf and support my team.

You played on Team Canada at The 2011 Spirit International. How was your tournament experience and what did you take away from The Spirit?

It was definitely a huge experience and a honour to be part of the spirit. Meeting and playing with the greatest players from each country was the best part.

You played with Brooke Henderson at The Spirit. Describe Brooke in three words.

Outgoing, confident, competitive.

Brooke Henderson (left) and Taylor Kim (right) at the 2011 Spirit International

Where do you live? Describe an ordinary day: What do you do? Where do you go? What’s your family like?

I live in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. I live with my parents and my younger sister. She’s fourteen and is learning to play golf. In an ordinary day, I wake up at 6:30am and do my morning workout and go to school. When I come back from school at 3pm, I go to my home course and play practice until dinner time. When I come home from the course, I do my homework and study until 11:30pm-12am and finally go to bed!

You like playing the piano, flute, guitar and the drums. That’s a lot of instruments! Do you come from a musical family?

I don’t come from a musical family but I started playing piano when I was 6 years old. I started flute and drums when I was in elementary school and just learned how to play guitar last year.

What music are you listening to right now?

I listen to Korean Pop music often but also listen to Katy Perry, Adele, and Taylor Swift a lot.

You’ve mentioned before that your Dad has the greatest influence on your golf game. When did you start playing golf and how does your Dad influence your game?

I started playing golf when I was 9 and started competitively when I was 13. My dad was a teaching professional in Korea and got me started. He helped me reach my goals which was to become a member of Team Canada, and is still my coach and will be forever. He has been supporting me mentally and physically. He is the best coach I can ever think of.

Taylor Kim played for team Canada at the 2011 Spirit International.

Name your top golf experience(s) to date.

In 2009, I won BC Juvenile Championship. In 2010, I was runner up in Canadian Junior Girls’ Championship and won Canadian Juvenile Championship. I finished 9th in Canadian Amateur in 2011 and 5th at BC amateurs. Also in 2011, I won the Canada Summer Games.

It’s pretty cold in Canada right now. How do you keep your game sharp during the winter months?

My swing coach has his indoor place for the winter. It’s like a dome and has everything such as trackman and the SAM putting lab. Also during the winter, every months, Team Canada goes down to Florida, Arizona and Texas for a training camp for a week.

What aspect of your golf game are you most confident about? Least confident?

I’m most confident about my long game and least confident about my wedge shot.

If you could play any course in the world tomorrow, where would you go?

Augusta National.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to go shopping and hang out with my friends and I also like to go swimming.