Kim Si-woo confident his experience can pay off at Masters | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
OK By Yoo Jee-ho SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- About to make his ninth appearance at the Masters, Kim Si-woo believes his experience at the famed Augusta National Golf Club should help him this week in the Peach State. His best showing at the Masters has been a tie for 12th in 2021. "I've built a ton of experience here, and I've developed a good idea of where to hit the ball and where not to go," Kim said in his pretournament interview at Augusta on Tuesday (local time). "I think putting will be the most important element to play well here." Kim Si-woo of South Korea tees off on the 11th hole during a practice round ahead of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, on April 7, 2026, in this Getty Images photo. (Yonhap) Kim, a four-time PGA Tour winner, said he began working on a new backswing four years ago, and he has emerged with better mechanics after an adjustment period of about a couple of years. "I know what the problems are, and I can fix them," he said. "I am able to take more consistent swings now." Kim, never among the bombers off the tee, admitted the length at the 7,565-yard Augusta can be challenging for him. Im Sung-jae of South Korea walks toward the 11th green during a practice round ahead of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, on April 7, 2026, in this Getty Images photo. (Yonhap) Im, who will be playing in his seventh consecutive Masters, agreed. "I feel some tension when I stand on the 12th tee," Im said. "But when looking out from the tee, the green and the flowerbed behind it are so beautiful." Im tied for second in his Masters debut in 2020, and it remains the best performance by a South Korean player at the tournament. Korean veterans set to tee off at Masters Keywords #Masters #golf Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (LEAD) BTS tops Billboard albums chart for 2nd week with 'Arirang,' a first in K-pop BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP 'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho Lee voices hope for peace in Easter message (2nd LD) Trump claims Iran's president has asked for ceasefire; Iran denies it Most Saved 'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho (3rd LD) Lee says S.

## Article Content
Facebook
X
More
Pinterest
Linked in
Tumblr
Reddit
Facebook Messenger
Copy URL
URL is copied.
OK
By Yoo Jee-ho
SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- About to make his ninth appearance at the Masters, Kim Si-woo believes his experience at the famed Augusta National Golf Club should help him this week in the Peach State.
Kim will be one of two South Koreans in the field at the Masters, the first major of the men's golf season, alongside Im Sung-jae. Kim played at every Masters from 2017 to 2024 and then missed out on last year's event before returning this year.
At No. 28, Kim is the highest-ranked South Korean player at the moment. He has had four top-10 finishes in nine PGA Tour events so far this season. His best showing at the Masters has been a tie for 12th in 2021.
"I've built a ton of experience here, and I've developed a good idea of where to hit the ball and where not to go," Kim said in his pretournament interview at Augusta on Tuesday (local time). "I think putting will be the most important element to play well here."
Kim Si-woo of South Korea tees off on the 11th hole during a practice round ahead of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, on April 7, 2026, in this Getty Images photo. (Yonhap)
Kim, a four-time PGA Tour winner, said he began working on a new backswing four years ago, and he has emerged with better mechanics after an adjustment period of about a couple of years.
"I know what the problems are, and I can fix them," he said. "I am able to take more consistent swings now."
Kim, never among the bombers off the tee, admitted the length at the 7,565-yard Augusta can be challenging for him. But this is where Kim believes his solid iron play can come in handy.
"I have decent accuracy numbers with my irons now," he said. "If I can leave myself with about 175 yards to the pin after a tee shot, then I'll be in a good position. With my six- or seven-iron, I can put the ball on the green."
The 30-year-old Kim has been playing on the tour for a decade and said he feels "far more comfortable" with his game than earlier in his career.
"It's only been the last two, three years that I've been playing steady golf," Kim added. "I feel like I am getting better. I am more confident, and I am having more fun."
Kim said he was particularly wary of the famous "Amen Corner," a three-hole stretch featuring the par-4 11th, the par-3 12th and the par-5 13th.
"You have to be careful at the 12th because the wind changes direction so often," Kim added.
Im Sung-jae of South Korea walks toward the 11th green during a practice round ahead of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, on April 7, 2026, in this Getty Images photo. (Yonhap)
Im, who will be playing in his seventh consecutive Masters, agreed.
"I feel some tension when I stand on the 12th tee," Im said. "But when looking out from the tee, the green and the flowerbed behind it are so beautiful."
Im tied for second in his Masters debut in 2020, and it remains the best performance by a South Korean player at the tournament. He tied for fifth last year and was one of just two players to shoot under par in all four rounds then.
"I've been dreaming of playing here since I was a kid, and finishing second at my first appearance was huge for my confidence," Im said. "You need a lot of precision and accuracy on this course."
When asked how he would feel donning the iconic green jacket, presented to the champion each year, Im said: "I love the color green. I'm only buying green things now, and it feels good just to picture myself in the green jacket."
jeeho@yna.co.kr
(END)
Related Articles
2 S. Korean veterans set to tee off at Masters
Keywords
#Masters
#golf
Articles with issue keywords
Most Liked
(LEAD) BTS tops Billboard albums chart for 2nd week with 'Arirang,' a first in K-pop
BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP
'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho
Lee voices hope for peace in Easter message
(2nd LD) Trump claims Iran's president has asked for ceasefire; Iran denies it
Most Saved
'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho
(3rd LD) Lee says S. Korea, France agree to cooperate on safe passage through Strait of Hormuz
Defense chiefs of S. Korea, France discuss security, arms cooperation
(5th LD) S. Korea, France agree to cooperate on safe passage through Strait of Hormuz
Lee voices hope for peace in Easter message
Most Viewed
All Categories
S. Korea mulling transfer of 1 KF-21 prototype to Indonesia
N. Korea launched projectile Tuesday: JCS
(3rd LD) N. Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles in back-to-back launch
(LEA) N. Korean official says Kim Yo-jong's statement on S. Korea is 'clear warning'
N. Korea fires unidentified projectile toward East Sea: JCS
Most Viewed More
Most Viewed Photos
N. Korea's workshop of secretaries of local party committees
S. Korean actor Ji Chang-wook
S. Korean actress IU
Nobel chemistry

---

## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- His best showing at the Masters has been a tie for 12th in 2021. "I've built a ton of experience here, and I've developed a good idea of where to hit the ball and where not to go," Kim said in his pretournament interview at Augusta on Tuesday (local time). "I think putting will be the most important element to play well here." Kim Si-woo of South Korea tees off on the 11th hole during a practice round ahead of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, on April 7, 2026, in this Getty Images photo. (Yonhap) Kim, a four-time PGA Tour winner, said he began working on a new backswing four years ago, and he has emerged with better mechanics after an adjustment period of about a couple of years. "I know what the problems are, and I can fix them," he said. "I am able to take more consistent swings now." Kim, never among the bombers off the tee, admitted the length at the 7,565-yard Augusta can be challenging for him.

### Areas for Consideration
- Korean veterans set to tee off at Masters Keywords #Masters #golf Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (LEAD) BTS tops Billboard albums chart for 2nd week with 'Arirang,' a first in K-pop BTS to drop 'Come Over,' exclusive new track on 'Arirang' LP 'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho Lee voices hope for peace in Easter message (2nd LD) Trump claims Iran's president has asked for ceasefire; Iran denies it Most Saved 'Beef' Season 2 deepens Korean narrative, casts A-listers Youn Yuh-jung, Song Kang-ho (3rd LD) Lee says S.

### Implications
- OK By Yoo Jee-ho SEOUL, April 8 (Yonhap) -- About to make his ninth appearance at the Masters, Kim Si-woo believes his experience at the famed Augusta National Golf Club should help him this week in the Peach State.
- Kim will be one of two South Koreans in the field at the Masters, the first major of the men's golf season, alongside Im Sung-jae.
- His best showing at the Masters has been a tie for 12th in 2021. "I've built a ton of experience here, and I've developed a good idea of where to hit the ball and where not to go," Kim said in his pretournament interview at Augusta on Tuesday (local time). "I think putting will be the most important element to play well here." Kim Si-woo of South Korea tees off on the 11th hole during a practice round ahead of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, on April 7, 2026, in this Getty Images photo. (Yonhap) Kim, a four-time PGA Tour winner, said he began working on a new backswing four years ago, and he has emerged with better mechanics after an adjustment period of about a couple of years. "I know what the problems are, and I can fix them," he said. "I am able to take more consistent swings now." Kim, never among the bombers off the tee, admitted the length at the 7,565-yard Augusta can be challenging for him.
- Im Sung-jae of South Korea walks toward the 11th green during a practice round ahead of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia, on April 7, 2026, in this Getty Images photo. (Yonhap) Im, who will be playing in his seventh consecutive Masters, agreed. "I feel some tension when I stand on the 12th tee," Im said. "But when looking out from the tee, the green and the flowerbed behind it are so beautiful." Im tied for second in his Masters debut in 2020, and it remains the best performance by a South Korean player at the tournament.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers kim, masters, korea topics. Notable strengths include discussion of kim. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 919.