For Christina Kim, the pandemic has been about perspective.
The three-time LPGA winner has used this unique year to prioritize taking care of herself on and off the golf course, and it’s working. On the latest edition of the “Why you suck at golf” podcast, the three-time LPGA winner discussed her return to tournament play, recent lifestyle changes and how she uses her platform on social media.
For Kim, it’s fun to compete again, but freaky at the same time. Before tournaments you can find the 36-year-old strutting through the airport in her hazmat suit, gloves and safety goggles to keep her and those around her safe from coronavirus.
“This is my prime source of income, playing on tour. I am just taking every precaution that I can,” said Kim, joking that she’s been preparing for COVID-19 for the last two and a half years because she prefers to stay by herself.
The travel is different, same goes for the atmosphere without fans in attendance. It’s been an interesting transition for Kim, a player who feeds off the energy of the crowds.
“It changes the way you compete whether you want them there or not,” she added. “The silence is insane.”
Kim most recently played the ANA inspiration, finishing T-24 at 4 under. The event was won in dramatic fashion but not without controversy surrounding “The Great Wall of Dinah,” a blue sponsorship wall placed in lieu of the grandstand for fans near the 18th green.
“Sometimes you are presented with an opportunity that some people can’t see,” said Kim, noting whether it’s a wall or grandstand, it’s the same golf course.
Off the course Kim has played around with different diets and has recently adopted the ketogenic lifestyle, a high fat, low carbohydrate diet. This change, paired with a new gym routine, has led to significant weight loss for Kim. Now, she’s addicted to her new, healthier lifestyle.
“I always used to joke that I was just a golfer, but now I feel like an athlete which is a really cool feeling.”
Kim has also been putting in work on her social media platforms, actively advocating for civil rights despite a slew of negative comments in response to her opinions. Instead of ignoring these messages, Kim is embracing them, using them to facilitate those conversations, listen to other opinions and simply open a dialogue.
“If you want to see change in the world, be the change you want to see,” she said. “I want to see all of humanity reach the greatest heights imaginable, and I want everyone to have the same opportunities to reach those heights. So let’s have these conversations, let’s see what we can do to make change, let’s see how we can help one another, let’s see how we can love one another, and by doing that we will help ourselves.”
The 17 year professional veteran also thinks perspective matters on the golf course, as well. She explains it like this: If you take a fairway 20 yards wide and break it down to inches, that’s 720 inches. If you divide that by the diameter of a golf ball (1.68 inches), you could fit about 427 golf balls in a fairway and only hit one.
“Golf is such an amazing parallel to life,” she said. “Why would you be scared of something that hasn’t happened yet?”