Anthony Kim what's in the bag 2026
By: Derek Clements | Edited: Mon 16 Feb 2026
Share this article:
As improbable comebacks come, this one takes some beating. Anthony Kim, who disappeared from the scene after being one of the most promising golfers on the planet, shot a final round of 63 to claim the LIV Golf Adelaide title in front of record crowds for his first victory in almost 16 years.
Kim went missing for 12 years and revealed that he had battled drug and alcohol issues before signing for LIV as a wild card. There were not many who ever believed that he could recapture his form of old, especially as he required to play a qualifying tournament last month just to get another season on LIV.
But he made four successive birdies from the 12th and then holed a 15-footer on the 17th to take a three-stroke lead down the last.
He said afterwards that he was completely overwhelmed by what he had achieved. The 40-year-old admitted that he had suffered some "very dark moments" as he fell victim to "scam artists" and "snakes" during his absence from the sport.
The win in Adelaide is his first title since the 2010 Houston Open on the PGA Tour. "I always believed that this day would come," said Kim. "With the support of my wife, my daughter and my mum, I knew anything was possible but for it to actually happen is incredible.
"I just wanted to take it all in. In my twenties, I wasn't able to enjoy the moment but having my daughter and my wife here has made it the best situation I could possibly ask for.
"I just want to thank all the people that have supported me when I was not playing well and I was struggling on the verge of never coming back."
Who is Anthony Kim?
Kim was born in Los Angeles on June 19, 1985. He was part of the winning USA team in the 2005 Walker Cup.
He turned professional in 2006 and after receiving a sponsor's exemption he finished in a tie for second on his PGA Tour debut at the Texas Open. He earned his PGA Tour card through the qualifying school for the 2007 season.
In May 2008, Kim won his first PGA Tour tournament at the Wachovia Championship. His 16-under par 272 total was the lowest score in the tournament's history until 2015. He earned $1,152,000 for his victory, and reached a new career high of 16th in the world rankings. In July, he won the AT&T National. He became the first American under 25 to win twice in one year on the PGA Tour since Tiger Woods in 2000.
In September 2008, Kim was a key player in the United States' victory in the Ryder Cup at Valhalla, beating Sergio Garcia 5&4 in the first match of the Sunday single matches.
At the 2009 Masters he set the record for most birdies in a round with 11 in the second round.
In April 2010, he won the Houston Open, becoming only the fifth player in 30 years to have won three times on the PGA Tour before the age of 25, the others being Woods, Phil Mickelson, Garcia and Adam Scott.
In June 2012, he had surgery after injuring the Achilles tendon in his left leg and was expected to be sidelined for up to a year, but he never came back. In 2014, he was reported to have had an insurance policy that would pay him $10-20 million in the case of a career-ending injury.
In February 2024 he joined LIV Golf as a wildcard selection. He played his first competitive tournament since 2012 at LIV Jeddah and finished last, 33 shots behind the winner. He retained his wildcard status for the 2025 season, finishing 55th in the rankings and was relegated.
But in November 2025, he shot a 64 at the PIF Saudi International and finished in a tie for fifth. He then finished third in the LIV Golf Promotions event in January 2026, which earned him a spot in the 2026 LIV season.
He averages 288.7 yards from the tee, hits 52.68% of fairways and finds 79.86% of greens in regulation. He averages 28.44 putts per round. He averages 5.25 birdies per round.
What's in Anthony Kim's Golf Bag?
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond Driver 10°
3-Wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond 15°
5-Wood: Callaway Elyte Triple Diamond 18°
Irons: Titleist T250 (4), TaylorMade P7 TW (5-9)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM10 46°, 50°, 54°, 58°
Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron Fastback Blade
Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1 25
About the author
Derek Clements is a seasoned sports journalist and regular Golfshake contributor, specialising in tour coverage, opinion pieces, and feature writing. With a long career in national newspapers and golf media, he has reported on the game across Europe, the United States and Australia. A passionate golfer, he has played and reviewed numerous renowned courses, with personal favourites including Pebble Beach, Kingsbarns, Aldeburgh, Old Thorns and the K Club. His love of the game informs his thoughtful commentary on both professional golf and the wider golfing community.
Be part of the action with a selection of unique golf tournament experiences, from playing in a pro-am with the stars to watching the action at golf’s most illustrious events. Whether it’s the Masters or The Open, The Ryder Cup or WM Phoenix Open, build your own bespoke package with the experts at Golfbreaks.com.
