But when her fellow players started reaching out about seeing her in Alabama and when her fans started wishing her good luck, thinking that she’d still be competing at Final Qualifying because they didn’t know what had transpired since the Epson Tour Championship, Kim knew it was time to tell the world.

She shared a lengthy post on Instagram on December 3, detailing her Stage 2B breast cancer diagnosis and explaining why she wouldn’t be in Mobile, Ala., this year. Kim also thanked her family, friends and members of the club she plays out of in Fort Worth, Texas, Shady Oaks, for their support through a difficult time and wished those teeing it up at Magnolia Grove good luck as they worked to get their LPGA Tour cards.

And the outpouring of love and support that Kim immediately received after sharing the update was astounding, but it wasn’t shocking considering the impact that the 33-year-old has made on so many during her time playing on both the LPGA and Epson Tours.

Her colleagues on the Epson Tour immediately started sending Kim movie recommendations and gift cards, with numerous players chipping in whatever they could to show their love for someone who has become part of their family over the past few years. Tournament officials provided pink ribbons to those competing at Final Qualifying so athletes who knew Kim could show their love for her from afar in Lower Alabama.

Angela Stanford, who Kim has been friends with since her early days on the LPGA Tour, knows from her own mother’s battle with breast cancer how difficult getting news like this can be and immediately jumped in to help Kim however she could, cleaning and stocking her house while she was having her surgery so Kim wouldn’t have anything to worry about except healing when she returned home.

Stanford was among the first people to learn about Kim’s diagnosis, and having always admired Kim’s positivity both on and off the golf course, she feels like the ability that her friend has to always find the bright spot in every challenging situation will serve her well in this journey.

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