Sei Young Kim looked over her right shoulder at the television in the corner of the media center at the Pelican Women’s Championship presented by Konica Minolta and Raymond James to watch her #DriveOn video feature, which opened her pre-tournament press conference. The defending champion whipped back around to face the camera and with an awestruck look on her face said, “Wow.”
She had voiced the piece and seen it long before today. But the impact it had as she reflected on her journey was noticeable and poignant.
“I was so surprised [when I first watched it]. It looks great. Reminded me at the moment of my journey, so I [kind of] inspired myself,” said Kim.
The daughter of a grand master in taekwondo, Kim was a third-degree black belt by the age of 12. She has utilized many aspects of martial arts to find success on the golf course. And it has allowed her to set lofty goals like qualifying for the LPGA Hall of Fame, which Kim called a “long-term goal,” one that she’s had since she was young and “the biggest motivation” to her.
“Taekwondo is about competing, fight with the other person. You can't avoid if somebody is going to kick you. You have to defend or attack,” Kim said. “I learn a lot from the fight because at the course, if it feels like a little fear, then you can't avoid. If you avoid, it's not good. You can't make a good result.
“The biggest thing is to compete against myself. It's really tough because golf is how to play well, and then it's all you. So always face my fears and then talking to myself, ‘Sei Young, keep doing it,’ and I keep pushing myself. That part is always really tough to me.”
A 12-time winner on the LPGA Tour, Kim has at least one victory in each of the last six seasons. With two events remaining on the schedule, she is still searching for her first title in 2021. It’s a safe bet she’ll run toward her fears and meet the challenge head on.
“I think every year, I set my goals higher than years before, so that's the biggest key is how I find success every year,” said Kim. “Except this year. But, hopefully another win as soon as possible.”
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