No one said it was going to be easy.
For the second straight day, Anthony Kim shot 6-over 76 at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in his return to professional golf. The 38-year-old was 5 over after his first four holes (starting on No. 15) before making a birdie at No. 1, his lone circle of the day. Then Kim doubled the third hole before making par on his next 11 to wrap up his second round.
Coming back after more than a decade away was going to have its challenges, but if it’s any consolation, finishing the day with 11 consecutive pars has to be seen as a positive considering how the day started. Nevertheless, Kim is at the bottom of the leaderboard and trailing the next closest competitor, Ian Poulter, by nine shots.
He won’t finish at the bottom of the leaderboard, however, as Matthew Wolff withdrew three holes into the second round because of sickness.
On the flip side of the leaderboard, Joaquin Niemann, who won the LIV Golf opener at Mayakoba last month, continues his stellar play. He shot 6-under 64 on Saturday and takes a two-shot lead over Charl Schwartzel into the final round.
Jason Kokrak, who shot 8 under on Saturday, and Louis Oosthuizen are tied for third at 10 under while a group including first-round leaders Jon Rahm and Adrian Meronk are tied for fifth at 9 under.