April 24, 2025 on 24 am – Sponsorships and Events – This story was updated on Wednesday, April 23, 2025
British amateur star Kris Kim is the first golfer to receive a new elite Wentworth scholarship at the Wentworth Foundation.
Kim, who became the fifth youngest player ever to advance on the PGA Tour last year, has been revealed to be the winner of the Wentworth Foundation’s first new elite scholarship.
The teenager was amazed by golf audiences around the world in the CJ Cup last May, especially when he was almost in a difficult situation in his third round, the teenager was amazing. But before that, his maturity and commitment were evident in the amateur competition.
He won the prestigious Fairhaven Trophy and R&A’s Boys Amateur Championship in a superb 2023 campaign, breaking the record when he won a bronze medal with England in the European Boys Championship, winning a third of the three European matches.
Under the terms of the Wentworth Foundation’s new elite scholarship, Kim has access to three iconic Wentworth courses in addition to all practice facilities, including the newly opened state-of-the-art Wentworth Golf Academy.
“I was so happy when I discovered the scholarship,” King said before an exciting two weeks ago that he would make his debut in England and return to the PGA Tour in the CJ Cup. “The idea of practicing and playing every day at Wentworth is so cool, it’s really good for me to play. I went to the BMW PGA Championship there and spent most of my time on the route Rory McIlroy or keep an eye on the golfer.
“Thinking that Rory is the Masters champion now, I will practice what he and the rest of the stadium do.
The Wentworth Foundation was founded in 1991 by the club’s former chief professional and now honorary member Bernard Gallacher helps aspiring young golfers and tennis players in the region.
Club manager Stuart Boyle explained that this year’s club captain Brady Rafuse hopes the foundation will become his charity of choice of the year and has raised a lot of money to help local young people, charities and schools.
“The Foundation provides pre-selected, teenage golfers with complimentary membership and lessons, but our 2025 Club Captain wants to take it to the next level. Tennis has an outreach programme and we've introduced that for the golf section with our PGA professionals delivering lessons at local schools. We also wanted to introduce an elite level to the current program, one that made the most of the three courses, the sensing practice facilities and our wonderful new Wentworth Golf Academy.
“I’ve been to most golf academies around the world, and Wentworth is the best I’ve ever seen. We know Chris has a lot of potential. He’s a lovely lad, very mature. He plays on the PGA Tour and he knows what he’s doing. He ticks a lot of boxes.
“Wentworth can strengthen his game and we’d love to see a young golfer in the BMW PGA Championship with the Wentworth Foundation logo on his bag.
Wentworth also owns Taylormade Performance Lab, which will further enhance Kim’s experience as he is the first British amateur golfer to sign a zero (name, image and similarity) contract with the brand.
Mark Thistleton, DP World Tourism Director at Taylormade, said: “The Wentworth Foundation’s support and development of future talents such as KRIS is a very positive step. Especially with the practical facilities, the new Wentworth Golf Academy is clearly a world-class facility and players like Kris will benefit.
“In addition to the facilities, he will be surrounded by a support network including Taylormade, which will provide him with all the opportunities to become a world-class golfer.”
He added Kim’s move back to the PGA Tour: “His potential is last year. One year, he had the opportunity to show his talent again on the biggest stage. He will have more eyes and attention. It’s a big learning curve and an important development in his career.”
James Byers, CEO of Kim Management Group Trinifold Sports, said: “It is an honor to work with Wentworth’s management team and its impressive Wentworth Foundation. They have shown real efforts and embraced the opportunity to work with one of the most exciting prospects for golf in the world.
“Chris will be the first elite amateur to receive this new innovation scholarship with the Wentworth Foundation, enjoying world-class practice facilities and three highly acclaimed courses. The ongoing partnership with Wentworth and Tai Lormer will also bring great benefits to Chris, who is renowned tourism director Mark Thistleton and Serest of Villing with giaia witchia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia withia
