Pro shares jaw-dropping travel expenses for PGA Tour season

In the increasingly darkening world of social media, Michael Kim remains a shining light. 

The South Korea-born American is a fascinating follow, and has already used his downtime to share with his 130-odd thousand followers nuggets of wisdom like how much free stuff PGA Tour stars get and insights into how equipment deals work.

He also likes to use the platform to get across his opinion on the state of the game. Who can forget his “stupid rule” rant after Jordan Spieth was disqualified from the Genesis Invitational in February?

Now Kim has shared a screengrab of his travel expenses for the 2024 season.

• PGA Tour caddie exposes how much they really earn

• Brutal rules mistake costs tour pro huge victory

“This is my spending on flights and hotels for 30 tournaments in 2024,” he wrote on X.

The total, he confirmed, includes “zero dollars spent on private flights, and rarely business class”.

He added: “Can’t imagine some of the top guys’ costs. At least I’m racking up some [credit card] points!”

That number?

Remember, this is only flights and hotels – nothing else.

😅 This is my spending on flights and hotels for 30 tournaments in 2024. Zero dollars spent on private flights, and rarely business class. Can’t imagine some of the top guys’ costs… At least I’m racking up some CC points! pic.twitter.com/tnqLHRl2fF

— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) December 6, 2024

Ninety-three thousand dollars. On flights and hotels. In one season.

And that’s actually down on last year, too!

If you’re wondering why Kim spent more in 2023, he confirmed it was because he played in two more events – including the US Open and The Open at Royal Liverpool.

• Brooks Koepka can’t resist Rory McIlroy dig ahead of PGA Tour-LIV Golf ‘grudge match’

• Greg Norman confirms he is OUT as LIV Golf CEO

When asked other expenses, including caddies fees, car hire, fuel and food, Kim said: “I don’t have to rent cars that much because of courtesy cars and those are free.

“I don’t really talk about caddie costs [because] that’s not just my finances and my caddie might not want that shared on here.”

When someone joked that he should get a deal with private airline company NetJets, Kim responded: “That would only increase my costs.

“Endorsements don’t necessarily pay for their private flights. They get paid and use that money for private flights. Those NetJets or Wheels Up logos only get you a discount, not free hours.”

So there you have it.

Alex Perry is the Associate Editor of bunkered. A journalist for more than 20 years, he has been a golf industry stalwart for the majority of his career and, in a five-year spell at ESPN, covered every sporting event you can think of. He completed his own Grand Slam at the 2023 Masters, having fallen in love with the sport at his hometown club of Okehampton and on the links of nearby Bude & North Cornwall.

Associate Editor