Whatever the consequence on the 2025 Augusta Nationwide Girls’s Novice, Lauren Kim has already carved out a bit of piece of historical past as she is simply the second Canadian within the occasion’s historical past to play in back-to-back seasons.
However make no mistake – Kim, of Surrey, B.C., isn’t simply there to hit a number of photographs, benefit from the stroll, and add one other be aware to her life’s scrapbook. After a breakthrough collegiate victory on the College of Texas in early March, Kim can’t assist however smile and say, nicely, positive, she’s fascinated by what it may be wish to win the factor.
“It’s on my thoughts,” Kim advised Golf Canada in a current dialog from Austin as she ready for this 12 months’s Augusta Nationwide Girls’s Novice. “Everybody on this area is succesful to win it however with the place my recreation is at proper now it’s not one thing I haven’t been fascinated by – successful this championship. I’ve simply bought to maintain chopping wooden and hold fascinated by what’s right here and never finish outcomes.”
Kim is a sophomore on the College of Texas and Canada’s top-ranked feminine newbie. The Augusta Nationwide Girls’s Novice area has all the time carved out a spot for a Canadian, and Brigitte Thibault – who performed the primary two editions of the championship – is the one different to play it greater than as soon as.
There’s an opportunity Kim would be the first to play it 3 times, as she is No. 20 within the World Novice Golf Rating – 20 spots forward of Vanessa Borovilos at No. 42 (Borovilos is 60 spots forward of the next-highest ranked Canadian).
Kim, who’s in her fifth 12 months as a part of Golf Canada’s nationwide workforce, completed T14 on the Augusta Nationwide Girls’s Novice final 12 months after capturing 71 within the last spherical at Augusta Nationwide itself. Lottie Woad, the world’s top-ranked feminine newbie, gained the title by one shot over Bailey Shoemaker.
Kim’s T14 tied Monet Chun for one of the best consequence by a Canadian on the occasion.
Kim’s Texas connection has been extraordinarily useful for her as a member of the membership, with Texas ties has taken her and a few teammates to Augusta Nationwide for a bonus follow spherical two years in a row. She stated the greens are way more difficult than you’d assume they might be with “tiny breaks” that aren’t actually seen by the bare eye.
“All of it comes all the way down to the expertise,” Kim stated. “Having performed there and having a neighborhood caddie – that was clutch. He knew the ins and outs and the place Rae’s Creek was and all of the various things that modified. Augusta adjustments their course yearly.
“To see the variations and my caddie to inform me, it’s actually useful.”
Kim captured the Betsy Rawls Invitational for her first win of 2025 and second of her collegiate profession. She was named the SEC Girls’s Golfer of the Week within the course of – about three weeks out from the Augusta Nationwide Girls’s Novice.
She stated her recreation is “actually strong” and could be very happy with all of the work she did by the wintertime.
“I’ve made a whole lot of swing adjustments and gained a whole lot of energy and pace. That’s what has helped me with my ball putting. I’ve by no means had a problem with it however now it’s extra constant than ever and all of the coaching that I’ve finished is admittedly paying off,” Kim stated.
The Augusta Nationwide Girls’s Novice will as soon as once more include two rounds at close by Champions Retreat Golf Membership earlier than the highest 30 (and ties) can have an opportunity to play Augusta Nationwide.
There are 72 gamers within the area to begin the week. The occasion started in 2018.
Kim is aware of that the week is exclusive and simply because she is taking part in nicely and made the reduce in 2024, the identical success just isn’t promised for 2025. However Kim has a strong recreation plan, and loads of expertise to lean on, for this 12 months.
“You undoubtedly don’t wish to assume too far forward of the top consequence and particularly as a result of there’s qualifying to get onto Augusta Nationwide – it’s an enormous deal,” Kim stated. “It will probably undoubtedly captivate your complete mindset of pondering. Like, ‘I’ve to play nicely. I’ve to make the reduce.’
“For me it’s simply fascinated by what’s in entrance of me and what to cope with versus the entire large image.”
As her maturity shines by, Kim is aware of {that a} simple plan to her week will hopefully lead to one other good end. Who is aware of – perhaps there will likely be one other Canadian to win on the famed fairways of Augusta Nationwide.
“Proper now,” Kim stated, “My eyes are set on the trophy at Augusta.”
The put up Elite Firm: Lauren Kim has already made historical past from Augusta first appeared on Golf Canada.
