Women’s professional golfer Kim Hyo-ju, 28, has been recognized as a global star that transcends her sport.
On August 16 (KST), Kim was ranked sixth in the “Cross-Sport TOP 10 People Quality Rankings” updated by the UK’s Twenty First Group. She was the only female golfer and East Asian athlete to make the list.
Twenty First Group, a sports intelligence company, advises the English Premier League (EPL), Tottenham Hotspur, the DP World Tour, and the United States Golf Association (USGA) on realizing and creating commercial value.
The EPL is the top tier of the European Football Association (UEFA) men’s league. Tottenham is ranked 26th in the UEFA Men’s Club Rankings. The DP World Tour is the premier men’s European professional golf league.
“The presence of exceptional individuals in sports is a key driver of interest,” said Twenty First Group, which selected the 10 most outstanding athletes across world sports based on factors such as global superstar potential, dominance in their sport, and comparative analysis.
World No. 7 Hyoju Kim is ranked No. 4 in the 2023 U.S. Women’s Professional Golf Race to CME GLOBE. She has five career LPGA Tour victories, including the 2014 Evian Championship.
The CME Ranking is a composite score that identifies the top 60 players on the LPGA Tour who will compete in the CME Group Tour Championship, the final U.S. Women’s Professional Golf event since 2011.
Kim’s inclusion in the Cross-Sport Top 10 People Quality Ranking is particularly significant as Twenty First Group is a sports statistics company recognized for its expertise in golf.