Who is Anthony Kim and why would his comeback matter?

Much to everyone’s surprise, Anthony Kim’s name re-emerged early in 2024.

Golf.com reported at the end of January that the former American PGA Tour star could return to action soon, as he weighs up his options.

Now, LIV Golf has released a promotional video confirming his move to the Saudi-backed league at the Jeddah event beginning on March 1.

Reports suggested he was ramping up his preparation to make a sensational comeback after a 12-year hiatus from the game and public life, and this is now confirmed.

Kim left an intriguing legacy on the PGA Tour. He has become remembered for his decline and desertion as much as his overall quality.

Since withdrawing from the Wells Fargo Championship in 2012, there had been very few public sightings of Kim.

He once lit up the Ryder Cup and has been on the brink of major glory, but his last appearance in professional golf was over 10 years ago.

There could be a large chunk of golf fans who aren’t aware of Kim’s exploits. Some of you might be thinking: Who is Anthony Kim and why should we care if he returns?

Let us go through who Kim was and why he became such a fan favourite on the tour…

LIV Golf Jeddah is back. March 1-3 👀#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/32uSb77hOQ
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) February 26, 2024

Anthony Kim: An upcoming star that was dimmed by injury

Kim turned professional in August 2006, at the age of 21, after spending three years at the University of Oklahoma.

Kim made his debut on the PGA Tour in 2006. Golf fans could be forgiven for believing he was bound for stardom when he came tied for second at the Valero Texas Open, three shots behind Eric Axley.

As the youngest rookie on the tour in the 2007 season, he made four top 10s which included a tie for third at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

He had earned his tour card after coming tied for 13th at the PGA Tour Qualifying event at PGA West in California in 2006.

After coming 43rd in the FedEx Cup Points List, Kim fully announced himself to the game with two wins in the 2008 season at the Wachovia Championship and the AT&T National.

A stellar year led to qualifying for the American team at the 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla where his week was headlined by beating Sergio Garcia 5&4 in the singles.

He and Phil Mickelson also earned a point in the Friday fourballs against Padraig Harrington and Graeme McDowell.

Kim played 22 events on the PGA Tour in 2009 but didn’t earn his third win. Nonetheless, he cashed in $1,972,155.

He did pick up a win at the Kiwi Challenge in New Zealand in November though. The Kiwi Challenge was a 36-hole event and Kim faced just four rivals in Sean O’Hair, Hunter Mahan and Camilo Villegas.

Kim waited until April 2010 to secure his hat-trick ball on the PGA Tour by winning a playoff at the Shell Houston Open. He followed this up with a third-place finish at the Masters.

This was his best finish at a major during his career. He also came tied for fifth at the 2011 Open Championship at Royal St. George’s.

Throughout his career, Kim played golf in an exciting and fearless way and his brash and flamboyant personality saw him make appearances off the golf course too, such as on Jay Leno and the NBA’s Celebrity All-Star game.

In June 2012, the same year Kim made his most recent appearance on the tour, he had surgery after injuring the Achilles tendon in his left leg.

He hasn’t played on any golf tour since that year.

After recovering from this serious injury, he had a herniated disc and the absences began to wrack up which ultimately led to his exodus from the game.

In 2015, Kim described golf as “a fond memory” in an interview with AP’s Doug Ferguson. He said in this interview that he was receiving monthly payments from an insurance policy he took out five years previously in case he got injured.

Could Anthony Kim win again?

An issue that was reported with Kim’s possible return to the PGA Tour was his insurance policy, which would be voided if he joined the US circuit.

There were whispers that LIV Golf chief executive Greg Norman called Kim ahead of a possible comeback at LIV’s Miami event in April, but this has been brought forward to March at Royal Greens and Country Club in Saudi Arabia.

He is now 38 years old which could throw even more doubt over how much ability he retains from the years when he became so popular.

In the same breath, he is unquestionably a fascinating acquisition for the LIV Golf Tour.

NOW READ: Which events could Anthony Kim play in on the LIV Golf schedule?

NOW READ: How much prize money could Anthon Kim win in the LIV Golf League?

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Matt Chivers

Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.

Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.

Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.

Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.

Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.

What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.