Christina Kim Just One of Many Personalities on LPGA

As mainstream sports media jumps between its “hot” stories from week to week like Brett Favre’s multiple retirements and returns or concussions in football, great personality stories within other sports—particularly women’s sports—often fall by the wayside from the mass public.

In women’s golf, one such story is the gregarious Christina Kim, known for her colorful outfits and flamboyant style on the course and her outgoing nature off of it.

Kim had a rough start to the 2010 season, failing to record a top-20 finish through the first 10 events of the year. Her season took a turn for the better after a renewed focus on her putting during the final few months of the LPGA season. She started working with a new putting coach, Ron Stockton, to help find her touch midway through the summer.

“He’s really shown me a different aspect of putting,” said Kim as she settled into a comfortable sofa during the Mirassou Sun Room Session wine event along the 18^th fairway this month before the start of the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge in Danville, CA. “And now I am seeing it go in the hole. It’s as simple as that and it’s making all the difference.”

In early July, Kim finished second at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic before placing among the top 10 at both the 2010 U.S. Open and 2010 British Open in the weeks after.  The two top-10 finishes at the majors were her best back-to-back showings at major events in one season since 2004.

Kim, who continues to be a fan favorite on tour, very much practices what she preaches: enjoy yourself, don’t be afraid to laugh and have fun at what you do. Kim learned the game from her father growing up in San Jose.

She turned professional in 2003 at the age of 19 and has gone on to become one of the most colorful personalities on tour with two career titles and nine top-three finishes. She is one of the most active golfers on Twitter and relishes the chance to engage with her fans over the new medium.

“Some of the other players were doing it a few years back already and were saying, ‘Hey, Christina, you have to get on Twitter.' So I just got on it and tried it out and got hooked. Little did I know… It’s a great way to engage with the fans, even respond to them. It’s a way to make a connection.”

Earlier this year, Kim published a book about life on tour together with Sports lllustrated golf writer Alan Shipnuck called “Swinging from My Heels.”

“He came to me and asked if I’d be interested,” said Kim. “I thought it was a great way to tell fans what life on tour is like.”

Kim also frequently makes a sartorial statement with her on-course outfits and clothing. On this day in Northern California at Blackhawk Country Club, she wore a backwards cabbie hat and not one, but two, pairs of sunglasses on her head: one for regular wear and one for putting.

“I look back at some of the photographs from when I was younger—spiked hair, horrific outfits, terrible color combinations—and wonder sometimes 'what was I thinking,’ so I guess it’s very much a part of me that I’ve always had. I just like to have fun out there.”

On this day, wine expert David Mirassou was pairing Kim up with the wine varietal that most compares to her personality.

With a bright, approachable style, Mirassou said that Kim would probably like Riesling.

“I love Riesling,” said a buoyant Kim.

In life, as on the course, Kim very much swings from her heels.