Anthony Kim, a former professional golfer who took a 12-year break from the sport due to injuries, made his much-anticipated return at the LIV Golf Jeddah event in Saudi Arabia. Although his performance was not stellar, Kim remains optimistic about his future in the game.
Kim, who last played on the PGA Tour in 2012, finished last in the 54-man field after shooting a 6-over 76 in the first round. Despite his disappointment with the score, Kim expressed confidence in his overall performance. “Obviously disappointed with the score, but I played much better than the score,” he told reporters. “I’ve got a lot to build on. Just made a lot of unforced errors and that was unfortunate, but I feel like I’m not that far away.”
Kim’s score placed him 14 strokes behind co-leaders Adrian Meronk and Jon Rahm, who both shot impressive 8-under 62s. However, as a wild card entry, Kim’s scores do not count towards the team competition. He was one of eight players in the field to finish above par.
Reflecting on his performance, Kim admitted that he had higher expectations for himself. “I would be lying to say that I didn’t have certain expectations,” he said. “At least even if I played [badly], I thought I would shoot around par. It was unfortunate that I made so many unforced errors from the middle of the fairway. That’s generally my strength is my iron game. To make so many unforced errors is really disappointing.”
In the team competition, Rahm’s Legion XIII squad took the lead with a total of 17 under par, just one stroke ahead of Louis Oosthuizen’s Stinger GC team. Although Kim’s individual performance did not contribute to his team’s score, he remains determined to improve.
Kim’s round began on a challenging note with a bogey on the par-5 18th hole. He followed that with four consecutive pars before encountering difficulties. On the par-4 fifth hole, Kim’s approach shot went awry, resulting in another bogey. LIV Golf CEO and commissioner Greg Norman attributed the mistake to Kim’s distraction caused by a drone flying above him. However, Kim managed to recover and sink a 25-foot birdie putt on the next hole. Unfortunately, he struggled to find consistency and finished the front nine with three consecutive bogeys.
Despite his less-than-ideal performance, Norman expressed support for Kim’s journey back into professional golf. He revealed that he had approached Kim about joining LIV Golf over two years ago but the timing was not right. Norman credited Kim’s wife, Emily, and their daughter, Bella, for helping him regain his passion for the game. “Very few people know what it’s like to be in the upper level like he was,” Norman said. “He was an incredible player. I watched him, and I saw this talent. To see him fall into this dark hole, and then about a year ago to clean himself up and get himself back off injuries and whatever it is, and to see where he is today … he has been reinvigorated in life through his wife Emily and through his daughter Bella. It’s brought something back to him.”
Kim’s return to professional golf may have started with a disappointing round, but it marks the beginning of a new chapter in his career. With determination and support from his loved ones, Kim is ready to overcome the challenges ahead and make his mark once again in the world of golf.
