Anthony Kim Returns to Golf with LIV Golf League Debut
Anthony Kim, the once-prominent PGA Tour player, makes a long-awaited comeback to professional golf through the lucrative LIV Golf series. Known for his fearless style, injuries sidelined Kim for years, but now he’s poised to reignite his career. Learn about his journey and the buzz surrounding his return.
Golf enthusiasts are abuzz with news that Anthony Kim, once a rising star on the PGA Tour, will tee it up this week at the third event of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league. The 38-year-old American, who has largely disappeared from the golfing spotlight since his unofficial retirement in 2012, has been coaxed back to professional competition by the lucrative LIV Golf series.
Kim, known for his brash persona and fearless playing style, enjoyed a meteoric rise in the early 2010s, earning a cult following on the PGA Tour. Finishing second in his debut in 2006, the American went on to secure two victories and became a key member of the 2008 US Ryder Cup team, thrashing European stalwart Sergio Garcia in a dominant 5&4 performance at Valhalla. He also made history as the first and only player to record more than 10 birdies in a single round at The Masters.
However, a series of debilitating injuries, including issues with his thumb, wrist, Achilles, and rotator cuff, saw Kim plummet down the rankings before his eventual disappearance following the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship. The terms of an insurance payout reportedly forbade him from making a professional comeback, but Kim has now found a way to return to the sport through the deep pockets of the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
As golf enthusiasts eagerly await Kim’s reemergence, questions linger about the state of his game and body after a 12-year hiatus. The task of reconditioning both to the rigors of professional golf should not be underestimated, with only two of the top 10 golfers from 2012 still featuring in the world’s top 200 today. The less demanding 54-hole format and schedule of LIV Golf may provide a more comfortable reintroduction for Kim, but the league will undoubtedly hope their new signing can rediscover his former brilliance.
The decision to grant Kim a wildcard spot in LIV’s lucrative events has drawn criticism, with some arguing that the league is prioritizing celebrity over sporting competition. The PGA Tour would likely have extended sponsor invites to Kim had he sought a return, but he would have needed to earn his way into the top events. LIV’s move, in contrast, has been seen as a departure from their claims of a serious and competitive golfing environment.
Nonetheless, the anticipation surrounding Kim’s comeback remains palpable, and his debut at the LIV event in King Abdullah Economic City on Friday is sure to captivate golf enthusiasts. Whether the American can recapture his former glory or if the hype will ultimately dissipate remains to be seen, but LIV will be hoping their latest high-profile acquisition can help drive their product forward.
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