Michael Kim: “It’s Honestly a Bit of a Dog Eat Dog World”

Professional golfer Michael Kim is known for sharing insider information from the world of professional golf with his followers on social media. This time, the 31-year-old writes about contact with player agents, experiences, rumors and the different types of agencies. “When you’re first out of college and a really good player, agents will reach out to you directly to you or your head coach showing interest. […] It’s tricky, they’re really good salesman and unless you’ve known them thru someone else, you’re not sure who to trust. You can find MANY examples of agents stealing from the player and/or many shady deals”, wrote Michael Kim.

How do players sign with Agents and Agencies? 🧵

When you’re first out of college and a really good player, agents will reach out to you directly to you or your head coach showing interest. I had multiple agents reach out to me in one way or another. Many head coaches are really…

— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) September 23, 2024

Offers made to players already under contract

Kim went on to tweet: “It’s honestly a bit of a dog eat dog world. I’ve heard rumors where players were going to sign with an agent and all of a sudden a different agent shows up with a really good deal with a company and the player ended up signing with the new agent for the deal. Some of the shadier ones will come up to a player even though he’s under contract promising a better deal or throw in a line or two to try and create doubt.”

It’s honestly a bit of a dog eat dog world. I’ve heard rumors where players were going to sign with an agent and all of a sudden a different agent shows up with a really good deal with a company and the player ended up signing with the new agent for the deal. Some of the shadier…

— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) September 23, 2024

Big or small agency?

In another tweet, Michael Kim describes the decision from a player’s perspective: “As a player, you have to decide what size of agency you want to sign with. Bigger agency with lots of names like Wasserman, or a smaller agency. Bigger agencies already have established connections and thru their bigger players, can even get certain deals or even exemptions into events. But the downside is, because of their big crop of players, in a way you’re all competing for the same pie within the agency. If I know the same level of player within the agency gets a new deal, you can be left wondering, why didn’t I get that deal? A smaller agency, you don’t have to worry about that kind of stuff but also know that in general, the agent isn’t going to have the same amount of power or sway within the industry. You can be the big fish and know that all the big deals might come thru you.”

As a player, you have to decide what size of agency you want to sign with. Bigger agency with lots of names like Wasserman, or a smaller agency.

Bigger agencies already have established connections and thru their bigger players, can even get certain deals or even exemptions…

— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) September 23, 2024

In his last two tweets on this topic, Kim writes about his personal preferences and experiences.

Personally, I wanted to be with a bigger agency. Deals with companies aren’t always a one company to one player type deals. Many times (in the smaller level deals), companies make deals with multiple players at once and usually the money and deal is divvied up amongst the players…

— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) September 23, 2024

I was super fortunate that I signed with a guy that truly truly cared for his players. He and his family treated me like family and was the absolute best. He passed away a few yrs back and I miss him dearly. Love you JM

— Michael S. Kim (@Mike_kim714) September 23, 2024

Note: This is of course one player’s opinion and therefore not an immediate general conclusion, as well as possibly not 100 percent reality. When it comes to contact with agents right after the end of a college career, Kim is certainly a good example. Michael Kim was honored with the Jack Nicklaus Award and the Haskins Award during his amateur career – both famous awards for the player of the year in American college golf. This is likely to have aroused the interest of some player agencies.