Among the many places Michael Kim flew to in the 2024 PGA Tour season was Mexico for the Tech World Championship.
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The life of a PGA Tour professional can seem glamorous, moving across the globe and back year-round in pursuit of giant purses. But to accomplish all that flying, professional players rely on jets. And all that airline travel, plus hotel stays once they arrive, comes at a staggering cost.
We know this thanks to Tour pro Michael Kim. Kim has become one of the best follow on social networks for golfers. He regularly gives a valuable and interesting insight into the behind-the-scenes life of a PGA Tour professionalboth the good and the bad.
It’s the kind of transparency modern sports fans like to see, and Kim gave his latest dose this week to his followers on X.
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In a post Friday morning, Kim shared a screenshot of a chart showing the total money he spent on flights and hotels for PGA Tour events in the 2024 season, revealing a staggering amount: $92,698.11.
That hefty cost accrued as Kim played in 30 different PGA Tour events in 2024, including stops in Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Bermuda and spots across the continental US.
Kim added that the $92,000 total he spent included “zero dollars spent on private flights, and rarely on business class.” Unlike some Tour stars, Kim always flies commercial, apparently making his travel costs much lower than others, as he noted in his post.
“I can’t imagine the costs of some of the best guys,” Kim wrote.
This is my flight and hotel expenses for 30 tours in 2024. Zero dollars spent on private flights, and rarely in business class. I can’t imagine some of the costs of the top guys… At least I’m racking up some CC points! pic.twitter.com/tnqLHRl2fF
— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) December 6, 2024
Kim’s example is useful in educating golf fans about how expensive it can be to be a professional player outside of the elite ranks. You have to spend a lot to have any chance of making a living and little money is guaranteed.
Kim, who has one career Tour win, still finished in the green for the 2024 season. Despite missing 13 cuts and capturing just two top-10 finishes, Kim’s official money for the season came in at $1,484,233.
However, the bulk of those earnings came from just five tournaments, further indicating the financial insecurity of many players in the lower rungs of the Tour.
Ironically, his biggest salary of the season was 310 800 dollars for a T6 finish at the American Express, which was just his second start of the year and was played in California, the state where he grew up.
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