Hello, Golf fans! If you love following the Golf and admire world-class, Im Sung-jae is a name you’ll recognize instantly. Im Sung-jae is a South Korean professional golfer known for his consistency, heavy schedule on the PGA Tour, and calm on-course attitude. He turned pro very young, climbed through Asian and Korn Ferry tours, and is now a multi-time PGA Tour winner with a strong global profile and solid earnings.
Im Sung-jae’s Biography
| Personal Information | Details |
| Name | Im Sung-jae |
| Nickname | Sungjae Im |
| Born | March 30, 1998, Cheongju, South Korea |
| Age | 27 years old |
| College | Korea National Sport University |
| Nationality | South Korea |
| Height | 6 feet (1.83 meters) |
| Turned Professional | 2015 |
| Net Worth | $12 million |
| Prize Money | ~$5 million |
| Spouse | Private |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Instagram Profile | @sungjaeim330 |
Early Career
Im Sung-jae’s introduction to golf occurred at an unusually young age. Growing up on Jeju Island, a region renowned for its golf culture in South Korea, Im began playing when he was just four years old, following his mother to an indoor practice facility. His talent blossomed rapidly, leading him to defeat his father for the first time by age eight.
At age seven, he began working with a professional coach, formalized his training at a Korean golf academy at twelve, and eventually turned professional at seventeen in 2015. Before establishing himself on major tours, Im gained valuable competitive experience playing on the Japan Golf Tour during 2016 and 2017, where he finished twelfth on the money list in his first year and consistently demonstrated technical prowess through competitive rounds.
Professional Career
Im Sung-jae’s professional career took a remarkable trajectory beginning in 2018. After successfully navigating the Korn Ferry Tour Q-School in December 2017—where he impressively shot a third-round 60—he earned his 2018 Korn Ferry Tour card. His debut season proved exceptional, winning the Bahamas Great Exuma Classic at just 19 years old, becoming the second-youngest winner in the tour’s history.
This victory was followed by another triumph at the WinCo Foods Portland Classic, propelling him to the top of the season’s money list and securing the dual honors of Korn Ferry Tour Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year. Remarkably, Im joined Stewart Cink as only the second player to win both titles in consecutive years.
His transition to the PGA Tour in 2019 continued this momentum impressively. Named 2019 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, Im made an immediate impact by leading the tour in birdies with 480 and eagles with 18. He qualified for the Tour Championship as only the thirteenth rookie in the FedEx Cup era and earned his first PGA Tour victory at the 2020 Honda Classic at PGA National Resort and Spa, defeating Mackenzie Hughes by one stroke.
His second PGA Tour title came at the 2021 Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas, where he shot an impressive final-round 62 to overcome a three-stroke deficit and win by four strokes. Additionally, Im has claimed victories on the Korean Tour, winning the Woori Financial Group Championship in both 2023 and 2024, demonstrating his versatility across different competitive environments.
Family Life
Im Sung-jae married his long-time partner on December 17, 2022, at Lotte Hotel World in Seoul. Though he has chosen to keep his spouse’s identity completely private, publicly sharing only a wedding photograph on Instagram along with a heartfelt message expressing appreciation and commitment to happiness, his relationship reflects a personal priority on privacy despite his public sporting career. Currently, Im does not have any children, allowing him to maintain full focus on his professional golfing commitments. He resides in Duluth, Georgia, just outside Atlanta, where he purchased a home in 2020, providing a comfortable base for his PGA Tour activities while maintaining strong connections to South Korea through his participation in Korean Tour events.
Im Sung-jae’s Net Worth Details
As of 2025, Im Sung-jae’s estimated net worth stands at $12 million, representing accumulation from multiple revenue streams throughout his professional career. His financial success has been primarily driven by exceptional prize money earnings exceeding $34 million across all tournaments since turning professional. Beyond competition winnings, Im generates additional income through lucrative endorsement deals with major brands including CJ Logistics, Titleist equipment, and Lagardère Sports partnerships. These sponsorships supplement his tournament earnings significantly, though specific contract values remain undisclosed. His net worth reflects not only his competitive success but also his status as one of Asia’s most marketable golfers, combining athletic excellence with growing international recognition and commercial appeal in the professional golf sphere.
Prize Money
| Year | Prize Money | Career Earnings to Date |
| 2024 | $870,585 | $34,982,404 |
| 2023 | $6,665,921 | $34,111,819 |
| 2022 | $5,567,974 | $27,445,898 |
| 2021 | $4,157,181 | $22,877,924 |
| 2020 | $4,337,811 | $18,720,113 |
| 2019 | $2,851,134 | $14,382,302 |
| 2018 | $33,281 | $11,531,168 |
Endorsements
Im Sung-jae’s endorsement portfolio includes:
- Titleist – Primary equipment sponsor providing clubs, balls, and gear across all tournaments and practice rounds
- CJ Logistics – South Korean conglomerate serving as title sponsor of the PGA Tour’s CJ Cup and primary marketing partner
- Lagardère Sports – International sports management and marketing representation handling commercial opportunities
- Rolex – Associated with the professional golfer family recognition program highlighting elite competitive players
These partnerships reflect Im’s marketability as one of golf’s emerging international superstars, appealing to both technology-focused equipment manufacturers and multinational corporations seeking association with professional sports excellence.
Career Records
| Achievement Category | Specific Record |
| Highest World Ranking | 16th (February 2021) |
| PGA Tour Victories | 2 (2020 Honda Classic, 2021 Shriners Children’s Open) |
| Korn Ferry Tour Wins | 2 (2018 season victories) |
| Korean Tour Titles | 2 (2023-2024 Woori Financial Group Championships) |
| Masters Tournament | T2 finish (2020) – most impressive major championship result |
| PGA Championship | T17 finish (2021) |
| U.S. Open Championship | 22nd place (2020) |
| The Open Championship | T7 finish (2024) – recent strong performance |
| Presidents Cup Teams | 2 appearances (2019, 2022) representing International Team |
| Birdies Led (2019 PGA Tour) | 480 birdies – led entire tour |
| Eagles Led (2019 PGA Tour) | 18 eagles – led entire tour |
| Hole-Outs (2019-2023) | 25 hole-outs in both 2019 and 2022-2023 seasons – led tour |
FAQs
1. What is Im Sung-jae’s current world ranking?
As of December 2025, Im Sung-jae ranks 36th in the Official World Golf Ranking, maintaining consistent positioning among elite professional golfers. His career-high ranking of 16th was achieved in February 2021 following successive strong performances.
2. How much prize money has Im Sung-jae earned throughout his career?
Im Sung-jae has accumulated approximately $34.98 million in career prize money as of 2024, placing him among the highest-earning professional golfers globally. His earnings derive from PGA Tour events, Korean Tour competitions, and international tournaments across multiple seasons.
3. Is Im Sung-jae still actively competing on the PGA Tour?
Yes, Im Sung-jae remains an active PGA Tour competitor with a valid tour membership. However, he completed his mandatory South Korean military service in late 2025, consisting of three weeks of basic training followed by 544 hours of volunteer service completion within 34 months through youth golf clinics.
4. What equipment does Im Sung-jae use?
Im exclusively uses Titleist equipment throughout his professional career, including Titleist clubs, golf balls, and accessories. He never uses a golf ball numbered “4” due to cultural significance—the number represents death in South Korea, reflecting his respect for cultural traditions.
5. Does Im Sung-jae have any major championship victories?
Currently, Im Sung-jae has not won any major championships, though his second-place Masters finish in 2020 represents his closest major championship opportunity. His best performances include T2 at the Masters, T7 at The Open Championship (2024), and T17 at the PGA Championship.
6. What college did Im Sung-jae attend?
Im Sung-jae attended Korea National Sport University, one of South Korea’s premier athletic institutions, where he balanced higher education with intensive professional golf development before turning professional in 2015 at age seventeen.
7. How does Im Sung-jae perform in international team competitions?
Im Sung-jae has represented the International Team in two Presidents Cup competitions (2019, 2022), establishing solid competitive records. In 2019, he won three matches while halving one and losing one. In 2022, his record included two wins, one tie, and two losses across team competition formats.
8. What is Im Sung-jae’s approach to playing in majors?
While Im has competed in all major championships, his major championship record demonstrates evolving adaptability. His breakthrough came at the 2020 Masters with a T2 finish, though subsequent major appearances have yielded mixed results, suggesting continued development in these high-pressure elite competitions.
9. How much does Im Sung-jae earn annually?
Im Sung-jae’s annual earnings fluctuate based on tournament performance and participation levels. In 2024, he earned approximately $870,585 from official PGA Tour events, while his best year (2023) generated $6.67 million. His annual salary from endorsement partnerships likely contributes significantly to his total income beyond prize money.
10. What distinguishes Im Sung-jae’s playing style and strengths?
Im Sung-jae earned tour-leading status in birdies during his rookie 2019 season, indicating exceptional short-game skill and aggressive approach play. His consistent participation (leading tour in starts), combined with mental toughness allowing multiple top-10 finishes annually, demonstrates comprehensive all-around golf abilities adapted to varying course conditions and competitive environments across multiple international tours.