Sei Young Kim’s 12-time LPGA winning pedigree feels distant in 2025 as she searches for answers on tour. Once among the circuit’s most feared closers, the 31-year-old has not tasted victory since her major triumph at the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Her form has dipped in recent seasons, and frustration mounted again at this week’s $2 million Kroger Queen City Championship. In trying to arrest that slide, Kim has turned to an unlikely model for inspiration: Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1.

That mental tug is why Kim admits she’s been quietly trying to “copy” Scottie Scheffler. “Sometimes, but not every day,” she said with a grin after finishing her round at the $2 million Kroger Queen City Championship. “I try as much as – he’s a really strong mental. When I watch him, he’s more focus than I thought. Yeah, I want to copy him.” The remark followed a revealing exchange about how hard it is to stay present.

“That’s always a grind,” she said. “Sometimes if I lose focus, I’m thinking about the future—‘Oh, I’m going to make the finish like that.’ But that’s not help my play…when I walking I just focus on the breathe, yeah, and keep the breathe and then count myself. That kind of helps.” It’s no surprise she looks to Scheffler. The world No. 1 has built a reputation for stone-calm poise, stacking wins and majors while maintaining a “one shot at a time” mentality that even fellow pros like Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth have praised. Sports psychologists point to his breathing routine and short memory as a masterclass in competitive focus.

For Kim, the quest isn’t to swing like Scheffler but to think like him. Her own career already shines: 12 LPGA titles, including the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, and honors such as the Rolex Player of the Year. In 2024 she posted five top-10s and topped $1 million in earnings, yet she knows the difference between a solid season and a spectacular one can be measured in how steadily she controls her thoughts.

Breath by breath, hole by hole, Kim is working to match the mental steadiness she admires. If that Scheffler-inspired calm sticks, the next big check might carry her name alone at the top of the leaderboard.

Breathing deeply and counting each step, Kim’s admiration for Scheffler isn’t a passing thought; it’s part of a longer story of mental resilience that has defined her career. From her early struggles as a rookie in 2015 to record-breaking performances and major victories, she has repeatedly shown the ability to confront pressure, learn from setbacks, and push herself forward with quiet determination.

Sei Young Kim’s journey of mental resillience

Sei Young Kim’s rookie year on the LPGA Tour in 2015 was a test of grit and skill. She captured three victories, including the Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic, and earned the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year award, yet she faced cultural and language barriers that could have derailed her focus. “I couldn’t understand anyone. I couldn’t read a sign; couldn’t order food; couldn’t watch television or find a book to read. Local rules sheets were useless and the instructions from officials went right past me. I nodded as if I understood what was being said. But in truth, I had no idea,” Kim recalled.

Despite the challenges, she pressed on, showing the same type of composure Scheffler now exhibits when navigating the pressures of the PGA Tour. Her record-breaking triumph at the 2018 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic further underscored her mental toughness. Kim set the LPGA 72-hole scoring record at 31-under 257, breaking her own previous benchmark and surpassing Annika Sorenstam’s 27-under 261. She also tied the 54-hole record at 24-under 192, making 32 consecutive sub-par holes, the most in LPGA history. Achieving such consistency requires isolating each shot, avoiding distractions, and refusing to let pressure dictate performance, just like Scheffler does week after week.

The apex of her mental resilience came with her first major, the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, where Kim fired a final-round 63 to finish five strokes ahead of Inbee Park. That victory was not just about swing or distance; it was about harnessing experience, overcoming near-misses, and performing under immense pressure, similar to Scheffler navigating a Sunday at The Masters.

Even in seasons where wins were elusive, Kim’s ability to rebound has been notable. In 2024, she posted five top-10s, including a runner-up at the Buick LPGA Shanghai, demonstrating that setbacks aren’t roadblocks but lessons to fuel future rounds. For Sei Young Kim, the path forward isn’t about copying another player’s swing; it’s about internalizing the focus, steadiness, and mental clarity that have made Scottie Scheffler one of the most formidable competitors in the world.