Si Woo Kim leads the PGA Tour in fairways hit at 71.75 percent. The Tour average sits just under 60.
He’s not one of the longest players on Tour—averaging 297.8 yards compared to roughly 302 yards—but still ranks 14th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee. That combination tells you his approach off the tee is doing something most players are not.
Here are three things that stand out and what you can take from them.
Here’s a PGA Tour video of Si Woo Kim walking through his strategy from the tee.
1. He doesn’t hit one driver shot
Si Woo Kim isn’t relying on one stock swing.
In the PGA Tour video above, he walks through different tee shots and how they change depending on the hole. Some require height, some require shape and others simply require the ball to stay in play.
He’s not stepping up trying to hit the same shot every time. In fact, when you watch him talking about his approach from the tee box, he seems to be trying to hit the fairway. He adjusts based on the situation in front of him which gives him more ways to keep the ball in the fairway.
2. He prioritizes the start line
At 71.75 percent of fairways hit, this isn’t just about avoiding big misses.
It comes down to starting the ball on the intended line and controlling what happens from there. Most amateur players never consider the start line. They think about the end result of their drive.
The bigger issue for Kim is where the ball starts. If the start line is off, the shot is usually in trouble right away.
Kim’s approach is simple: Pick a start line, commit to it and let the shape work off that.
3. He knows when to take less than full speed
Kim averages 297.8 yards off the tee, slightly below the Tour average of around 302 yards, but still ranks 14th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee.
When control matters more than distance, he relies on a more controlled swing with the driver. Less speed, less variability, more predictable results.
If you treat every drive like a max effort swing, this could be a lesson for you to learn from.
What driver does Si Woo Kim play?
While you’ll need a consistent and efficient swing to hit 70 percent of your fairways, the driver still plays into it. Kim’s current setup includes:
- Head: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond driver (8.5°)
- Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 6 X
The Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond driver did well in our high swing speed testing, earning a top-10 finish. It was stronger in accuracy and forgiveness than it was in distance.
Final thoughts
Si Woo Kim isn’t the longest driver on Tour but he’s one of the most efficient.
He’s doing it by:
- Choosing the right shot for the hole
- Controlling where the ball starts
- Taking speed off when needed
- And relying on a repeatable swing
It’s a simple approach but emulating it may just help you hit a few more fairways.
Top Photo Caption: Si Woo Kim hits driver during the RBC Heritage. (GETTY IMAGES/Andrew Redington)
PufflerSC
1 month ago
I’m just as surprised when my ball ends up in the fairway as I am when it ends up in the woods. My game is a constant mystery to me (and usually to my playing partners, others on adjoining holes, squirrels in the trees and aquatic animals in the water).