Anthony Kim and his daughter, Bella, celebrate his first win in nearly 16 years.
MATEO VILLALBA, LIV GOLF
Anthony Kim turned the clock back 16 years with a scorching spree of birdies and stole the spotlight from the anticipated heavyweight showdown in LIV Golf’s marquee event in Adelaide, Australia.
Kim channeled the version of his old self that was capable of rattling off a record 11 birdies in the second round of the 2009 Masters, this time piling up nine birdies in a final-round course-record 63 at The Grange to sail past 54-hole co-leaders Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. His three-year comeback saga went from a punch line to punchout performance with his first win on any tour in nearly 16 years since a playoff victory over Vaughn Taylor in the 2010 Shell Houston Open.
“God gave me a talent. I was able to produce some good golf today. I knew it was coming,” an emotional Kim said after erasing a five-shot deficit and beating Rahm by three strokes and DeChambeau by six. “Nobody else has to believe in me but me, and for anybody that’s struggling, you can get through anything.”
Kim took the lead for the first time with his fifth birdie of the day on the 12th hole, known as the Watering Hole, rolling in a 17-footer and erupting with a massive fist pump. He rode the momentum and the energy of the Australian crowds that backed him to four additional birdies down the stretch to salt it away.
"I’m too old to be reacting like that because I think I pulled something in my hip,” the 40-year-old Kim said. “But I will say that that was all the lows that I went through in my life that I got to dig out of.”
His 63 in the final group was eight shots better than Rahm and 11 better than DeChambeau.
“I knew this was going to happen, but for it to actually happen is pretty insane. … I’m going to keep doing it.”
Anthony Kim
“I don’t really know how to put it into words,” said Kim, who had visa issues just trying to get to Adelaide for the second event of the season. “I knew this was going to happen, but for it to actually happen is pretty insane. I just want to thank all the people that have supported me … who when I was not playing well and I was struggling on the verge of never coming back to LIV, always supported me. Thank you to everyone that’s been in my corner. I’m going to keep doing it.”
The last step of Kim’s comeback really started last month in Florida, where he grinded his way to a third-place finish in the LIV Promotions tournament to earn one of the three 2026 LIV wild-card spots after being relegated after two seasons of residing at the bottom of the LIV Golf standings. He emerged from 12 years as a mysterious cult fascination in hibernation into an all-too-real global golf punch line.
But in the Promotions event at Black Diamond Ranch in Florida, Kim showed the spark that once made him one of the most captivating players on the PGA Tour. He had to make a birdie on the last hole on Friday to advance to the final 36 holes for the chance to reclaim his status on LIV.
Kim promised in Florida that this day was coming.
“I’m not here to prove everybody wrong. I’m here to prove myself right,” Kim said after securing his return despite finishing near the bottom at 56th and 55th in the individual standings his first two seasons on the Saudi-funded circuit. “I’ve worked so hard. … This is just the first step, but I’m glad I earned my spot so everybody could quit talking s***, and I’ll be back soon and I’ll be winning golf tournaments soon.”
With his wife, Emily, and daughter, Bella, at his side in Australia, Kim said his story is just getting started.
“Best moment of my life so far,” Kim said. “Obviously when Bella was born, Emily and my life changed. But to be able to share this moment, even though Bella won’t understand it, one day she will, and for her to be able to run on the green and see her dad isn’t a loser was one of the most special moments of my life.”
Kim had not been a part of any LIV team since joining the league in 2024 after his 12-year self-imposed competitive exile until he was invited to join the 4Aces GC team after Patrick Reed’s abrupt preseason departure. Kim’s victory after everything he’s been through was applauded by his peers.
“I’m so happy for him. He’s worked hard,” said Cam Smith. “I actually played with Anthony his first round back in Saudi a few years ago, and it was scrappy to say the least. And I was very skeptical at the start. But what he’s been able to do over the past couple of seasons and dig deep and grind out and then do what he did today is pretty special.”
In addition to the emotional Kim story to record LIV crowds got behind, the raucous Adelaide fans were treated to their all-Aussie Ripper Golf Club of Smith, Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert and Elvis Smylie claiming the team title by two shots over Rahm’s Legion XIII. It extends the captivating start of 23-year-old LIV rookie Smylie, who won his debut the previous week in Riyadh.
“Best two weeks in the world. I’m still dreaming,” said Smylie. “It’s such a cool feeling doing it with these guys. It’s going to be insane tonight, the celebrations. I can’t wait.”
Scott Michaux
