Why I still can't believe that Anthony Kim won again

I have had a week to reflect on Anthony Kim’s remarkable LIV victory in Adelaide and I still cannot quite believe that it happened.

When he announced that he was making a comeback I was certain that it was little more than a publicity stunt and that he would quickly disappear back into obscurity. I could not have been more wrong.

The remarkable thing about Kim’s success was the reaction it generated. Social media exploded. You would expect his fellow LIV golfers to be among the first to congratulate him and of course they did. But LOTS of golfers with no connection to LIV also got in on the act.

There was this from Luke Donald on X: "Way to go AK! Redemption stories always resonate. From being one of the most talented players in the world, to disappearing from the game, to putting in the work to get yourself back into the winner’s circle - that takes something special. We all fail at times. Not everyone has the courage to come back, face it, and rebuild. That takes real strength. Congrats, AK."

Tiger Woods on Instagram: "You’ve got to wrap your heart around it."

Oliver Wilson wrote: "I was lucky enough to play against AK in his prime and have never forgotten how he played golf, he had so much talent, was fearless, had every shot in the bag and made it look so much fun. It was exactly how I wanted to play. He was a world number one in the making! Getting to watch him today reminded me of the old AK, it was unreal golf and the most incredible comeback I’ve seen. Can’t wait for the movie!"

Colt Knost: "Congrats to @AnthonyKim_Golf on an incredible win!!! Not sure who will play you in the movie, but it will be a good one!"

One fan posted: "I’m a PGA fan. I’ve never connected with the LIV product. But if anyone tries to downplay what Anthony Kim just did, shame on you. This is one of the greatest comebacks in the history of sports."

On and on it went.

And do you know what? The story of Kim would indeed make an incredible movie. Except that nobody would believe it.

The Rise, Fall & Rise Again of Anthony Kim

Before going any further, it is worth briefly reflecting on his career.

He became the first American under 25 to win twice in one year on the PGA Tour since Tiger Woods in 2000. 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.

Kim was a key player in the United States' victory in the Ryder Cup at Valhalla and at the 2009 Masters he set the record for most birdies in a round with 11 in the second round. It seemed that he could do no wrong.

He had the world at his feet and was regarded by many as a world number one in the making.

But 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. His manager also revealed that Kim had completely stopped playing golf. 

But from nowhere, in February 2024 it was announced that he was joining 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.

All of that is just the tip of the iceberg.

Kim’s life actually unravelled in the most spectacular of fashion. 

He battled drug and alcohol addiction and admitted: "I contemplated ending my life every day for almost two decades even while playing [on the PGA Tour]. When to the public I seemed happy while struggling with addiction and mental illness. This isn't to tell everyone to get sober but for people who are letting addiction ruin their lives as I did that you can turn your life around.

"I got so good at hiding it that I lost who I was. It’s f****** hard playing majors making porta potty stops every few holes. In rehab I found faith, self love and respect and purpose. I am not proud of who I was but I am today. One of the many things I realised is how grateful we all need to be for what we have now and to spend time with real friends because tomorrow is not guaranteed.

"I promised myself when I was in the ER for six days that I would do everything I could to make a difference to show my daughter that it’s never too late to keep trying. I am currently working on a few things that I know will change peoples lives including a website where I will be sharing both good and bad experiences that hopefully others struggling can learn from."

He says he has now been sober for three years. He is married and he has a daughter whom he clearly dotes on and has given him a new purpose.

Just How Remarkable Was Anthony Kim's Victory?

It wasn’t just the fact that Kim won a golf tournament for the first time in 16 years, it was who he beat. There is a well-founded sense that LIV fields lack strength in depth - and that is beyond dispute. But Kim looked Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau square in the eye and beat them. And he did it in front of a huge Adelaide crowd.

"I know I can make a lot of birdies," Kim said. "I know my self-belief is second to none. Obviously taking 12 1/2 years off the game is a long time, and you have to build that confidence back. So I guess from when I was in my 20s, I was never scared to play anybody. I’m not scared to play anybody now. I know this is just one golf tournament, but I believe in myself. That will never change."

I have no idea whether or not this is a one-off but it seems certain that Kim will be playing in the majors as a result of this win and it will be absolutely fascinating to see how he gets on.

Where does his comeback stand? There are those who claim that Tiger Woods’ Masters success in 2019 is the greatest of them all. It was his first major in 11 years and was special because of all the injury woes he had been through.

And then there is Ben Hogan. Early in 1949, he and his wife Valerie nearly died when their car collided with a bus in foggy conditions. Hogan was critically injured and, indeed, was told that he may never walk again, never mind pick up a golf club. But he was always a strong-willed individual and was determined to prove the doctors wrong. Within 12 months he was back in action and finishing in a tie with Sam Snead at the Los Angeles Open. Although he lost th playoff, there was no doubt that he was back and he would go on to defy the odds by winning the 1950 US Open.

So yes, the comebacks of Woods and Hogan were more significant but I stand by my assertion that we are unlikely to ever witness a more unlikely victory than that of Kim. And it is a proper redemption story.