Tag: Anthony Kim

Brandel Chamblee and LIV Golf’s Anthony Kim have heated, profanity-laden exchange on social media

The gloves are off.

After years of criticizing LIV Golf and shaming players for making the move to the Saudi Arabia-backed, Greg Norman-led circuit, NBC’s Brandel Chamblee has changed his tone. He now says it’s time for the PGA Tour and LIV to come to an agreement and reunite men’s professional golf.

“The time is now, to (Rory McIlroy’s) point about making a deal,” Chamblee said on Golf Central late Thursday, “I wouldn’t have said that a year ago, I don’t think there are a lot of people within the world of golf that would be particularly enamored with the idea of making this deal.

“But it is the better end of the bargain at this point.”

LIV’s Anthony Kim, who made his return to golf earlier this season in Jeddah, took to X/Twitter and called Chamblee’s heel turn a “hypocritically retreat.”

Note: the following tweet contains profanity.

As you’d expect, Chamblee came back firing: “I don’t think the Saudis are going to turn away from the game and they will continue to be a poaching threat and dilute the product of the PGA Tour. It’s the sad reality of you and your brethren on the LIV tour willingly dealing with a murderous dictator for profit so that he can hide his atrocities.”

In five LIV Golf starts this year, Kim has yet to finish better than 50th. Chamblee will serve as NBC’s lead analyst later this year at the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.

On the 14th anniversary of his last PGA Tour win, LIV Golf’s Anthony Kim believes he can get his game back

“I believe I can absolutely do it at that level again. I’m prepared more than ever for success,” Kim explained.

Today marks the 14th anniversary of Anthony Kim’s last win on the PGA Tour at the 2010 Shell Houston Open.

Over that time the former rising star has “had some experiences that I wouldn’t wish on anybody,” such as battles with addiction and a whopping seven surgeries (including the same spinal fusion operation Tiger Woods underwent in 2017). He’s keeping a lot of the details of his demise close to the vest as he prepares to release a documentary, but did shed light on conversations with doctors who told him his time was running out.

“That’s a pretty rude awakening,” Kim said on Thursday ahead of LIV Golf Miami at Trump National Doral. “I still think about it to this day when I’m out there and I get frustrated with my golf, you know, how far I’ve come.”

During a recent interview with David Feherty, Kim admitted he never really loved golf. Throughout his down years the three-time PGA Tour winner and former Ryder Cupper hardly paid attention to what was happening on Tour. But just how removed was he from the game? Dustin Johnson told him on Wednesday that Brooks Koepka won back-to-back majors in 2018. Kim had no clue.

Since the birth of his daughter Isabella two years ago, Kim has gotten his life on track and is back in professional golf as a wildcard player for LIV Golf this season. The game has changed quite a bit in his time away, and as much as he wants to win and compete, Kim knows the real importance is to stay in the right mental headspace as he continues his return. He’s not sweating the poor results – in two starts with LIV he’s finished last and 50th in the 54-player field events – and thinks he can still play to the level he once did while on the PGA Tour.

“I believe I can absolutely do it at that level again. I’m prepared more than ever for success,” he explained. “I don’t think in my first career I was because I didn’t know what to expect. It was my mistakes that are the reason that I fell down into this deep hole. Having better people around this time around definitely helps.”

“My goals for this season and moving forward are to work as hard as I can, be focused, which I don’t think that I ever have been,” Kim added. “I appreciate the opportunity going on around me and the platform that I have and to be able to make a difference in the world. As crazy as that sounds, I feel like I will have the opportunity to do it, and the better I play, the louder my voice gets. And so hopefully if I play some good golf I’ll be able to do bigger things.”

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LIV Golf’s Anthony Kim sheds light on his addiction, surgeries and life away from golf over the last 12 years

Kim told part of his story in a sit-down interview with David Feherty.

In the lead-up to his recent return to professional golf and public life, Anthony Kim avoided talking about the last 12 years of his life spent in privacy behind closed doors.

“I’ll tell my story when it’s the right time but right now I’m focused on golf,” Kim said before his debut at LIV Golf Jeddah, where he finished in last place.

A month later that time has (somewhat) come as the 38-year-old sat down with LIV’s David Feherty to talk about his path back to golf and a few of the admittedly self-inflicted challenges he’s faced over the last decade.

“Golf is important to me and not important to me at the same time,” Kim said at the beginning of the video. “I’ve had some very dark moments. I’ve had some very low moments. I felt very alone, even when there’s a million people around. I needed to get my mind on straight and figure out what my purpose was on this planet.”

Kim is saving the details for a documentary on his career that’s in the works and said he wasn’t able to talk about the insurance settlement he received but was adamant he didn’t just take the money and run when he injured his Achilles back in 2012.

“I’ve had multiple shoulder surgeries. Hand surgery, spinal fusion, but had a lot of injuries and a lot of surgeries,” said Kim. “I think I’m actually hitting the ball farther now than when I left the game. So maybe some of this metal is helping.”

The three-time PGA Tour winner from 2008-2010 said he did talk to the Tour about a return, but he wasn’t considering playing golf again until he got a call from LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner Greg Norman three months ago. When asked if Norman was the catalyst for his return, Kim slightly changed his answer and said his wife was the reason he started playing golf again because she wanted to learn the game.

“I have an interesting relationship with golf. I don’t think I ever loved it. What’s very weird to me right now is that I’m falling in love with the game,” Kim explained. “That’s such a weird spot for me, because golf was filled with pressure. Golf was filled with lots of different emotions for me. Because my family had to go through a lot to give me this opportunity to play golf, right. So with that added pressure, I was willing to risk a lot more. That was my nature. I was aggressive on the golf course I was aggressive off the golf course. And that led to my demise.”

The Oklahoma product knew he needed help for a long time but just kept it all to himself until he started turning his life around a year and a half ago. It’s no coincidence that his daughter, Bella, is 2 years old.  In fact, doctors had originally told Kim he wouldn’t be able to have a child given all the things his body had been through with his addiction.

Over the last 12 years, Kim thought he was having a great time but said he “literally doesn’t remember” any of those times. His addictive personality controlled his life and he admitted he was around bad people and “scam artists” who took advantage of him. According to Kim, he’s since shed 98 percent of those people from his circle.

The early results haven’t been great for Kim, which is to be expected when you take a 12-year break and battle the inner demons he’s faced. In two starts with LIV as a wildcard player for 2024, Kim has finished 53rd and 50th in the 54-player field events. That said, he thinks he can still play to the level he once did while on the PGA Tour.

“I believe I can absolutely do it at that level again. I’m prepared more than ever for success,” he explained. “I don’t think in my first career I was because I didn’t know what to expect. It was my mistakes that are the reason that I fell down into this deep hole. Having better people around this time around definitely helps.”

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Anthony Kim misses first cut in 12 years at Asian Tour event in China

Kim missed the cut by eight shots.

In Anthony Kim’s first event back with a 36-hole cut, he didn’t make the weekend.

After back-to-back weeks playing for the no-cut events at LIV Golf in Jeddah and Hong Kong, Kim teed it up this week on the Asian Tour at the International Series Macau in China, continuing his return to professional golf. However, a 4-over 74 in the opening round followed by an even-par 70 on Friday resulted in Kim sitting T-130 after two rounds and missing the cut by eight shots.

It’s Kim’s first missed cut in more than 12 years (sarcasm font).

His final-round 65 in LIV Golf Hong Kong was an encouraging sign, but his comeback is going to take longer than a handful of rounds. He wasn’t the only LIV golfer to miss the cut at Macau, as did Harold Varner III, Graeme McDowell and Eugenio Chacarra.

On the flip side, LIV’s David Puig leads at 11 under after opening in 65-64. He’s tied on top with Jbe Kruger. Mito Pereira and Bjorn Hellgren are T-3 at 10 under.

Anthony Kim will tee it up in a non-LIV Golf event next week

That’s one way to knock off competitive rust.

Anthony Kim is going to play three straight weeks in his return to professional golf.

On Saturday, the 38-year-old carded his best round with LIV Golf, a 2-over 72 at LIV Golf Hong Kong. He sits 8 over, tied with Phil Mickelson, heading into the final round. Kim’s second round included four birdies, his most in his five rounds yet.

Next week, though LIV Golf doesn’t have an event, he will join roughly 20 other golfers from the circuit at the Asian Tour’s International Series Macau. Also in the field are Patrick Reed, Ian Poulter and Sergio Garcia, among others.

International Series Macau will be at Macau Golf and Country Club in China. It’s the second International Series event of the year, with Carlos Ortiz winning the first two weeks ago in Oman.

LIV: Best photos from Hong Kong

The Asian Tour has a 10-year, $300 million partnership with LIV Golf. The circuit also awards world ranking points. Last year, Andy Ogletree earned a season-long exemption into LIV for winning the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit.

Kim, a three-time PGA Tour winner, returned to professional golf last week after more than a decade away. After not beating anyone last week, he is ahead of only Hudson Swafford heading to the final round in China.

Abraham Ancer, Dean Burmester tied for lead at LIV Golf Hong Kong; Phil shoots 80

Scores were all over the place in the opening round.

LIV Golf is at Hong Kong Golf Club in Hong Kong for its fourth event of the 2024 season, a unique course measuring only 6,700 yards.

Some players, like Abraham Ancer and Dean Burmester, took advantage Friday during the opening round. Others, like Anthony Kim and Phil Mickelson, did not.

Ancer and Burmester are tied for the lead after 7-under 63s on Friday. Burmester carded six birdies, an eagle and a bogey while Ancer fired a bogey-free round.

“I think it’s definitely a golf course that everybody likes,” said Ancer. “Like Dean was saying, even the long hitters enjoy it, as well, because if they’re going to hit some irons, they prefer hitting irons over 3-woods whenever it’s a really tight fairway. I think it just brings everybody in. It’s a great golf course to showcase where everybody is at.”

Meanwhile, in his fourth round of professional golf since his return, Anthony Kim shot 6-over 76, but he isn’t in last place on the leaderboard. He’s beating Lefty, who shot 10-over 80 in the first round. Mickelson had no birdies, three doubles and four bogeys.

Kim once again had a slow start, as he was 4 over after four holes.

There are six players tied for third at 6 under, including Louis Oosthuizen and Martin Kaymer. Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau are sitting at 5 under. Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann are T-18 at 3 under after the opening round.

Breaking down Anthony Kim’s last-place LIV Golf Jeddah debut by the numbers

“I’m more encouraged after playing this tournament and playing like ass, really. But I’m very encouraged.”

Unless you had zero expectations for Anthony Kim’s return to professional golf, your expectations were too high.

After three wins on the PGA Tour and two appearances for Team USA in the Ryder Cup and President Cup (5-2-1 overall), Kim was tabbed as golf’s next young talent in the late 2000s. Surgery to his Achilles in 2012 – and an insurance policy rumored in the $10 million range – kept Kim away from the professional game for the last 12 years before the 38-year-old joined the LIV Golf League for the 2024 season as a wild card player.

The universally loved fan-favorite started the week with a puzzling “Hi haters” hype video that fell as flat as his performance, both of which shocked fans given how high-energy Kim used to be. It’s far too early to make sweeping judgments, but if the first three rounds in Saudi Arabia are any indication of what’s to come, the former rising star may have burned out.

By any standard, no matter how low the bar was, Kim struggled in his debut at LIV Golf Jeddah with a dead-last finish at 16 over, more than 10 shots behind the penultimate player on the leaderboard at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.

“Obviously it was a rough week. I’m excited to be playing professional golf again. I feel very blessed that I have this opportunity,” Kim said of his debut. “I’ve got a lot to work on, but I had a lot of good things go my way this week. So I’m looking forward to building on that and being in contention at some point this year.

“I’m definitely hitting the ball well. I’m doing a lot of things well. I know the scores don’t reflect that. It’s disappointing to score that way. But at the same time, I know I have a lot to build on, and I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing.”

Here’s a look at AK’s return to professional golf by the numbers.

Anthony Kim cards second straight 76, Joaquin Niemann leads 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah

No one said it was going to be easy.

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.

Social media has mixed reviews on Anthony Kim’s 76 at LIV Golf Jeddah in professional return

The reviews are mixed.

The Band-Aid has been ripped off.

Anthony Kim made his return to the professional golf world Friday, firing a 6-over 76 in the first round of LIV Golf Jeddah at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in Saudi Arabia. Kim carded only one birdie during the first round and had seven bogeys, and he sits dead last in the 54-man field.

But, is that even a bad score? Kim hasn’t played a competitive round, let alone been seen in the public eye, in nearly 12 years. There was always going to be some competitive rust (see his shank on the fifth hole) and first-tee jitters he had to get over before we saw what he really had left in the tank.

Photos: Anthony Kim at LIV Golf Jeddah

However, as social media often does, there was no shortage of reactions to his debut Friday morning. Here’s what folks had to say about Kim’s return, and there were mixed reviews:

Anthony Kim sits dead last at LIV Golf Jeddah after his return to professional golf

Professional golf is hard.

Professional golf is hard. Especially after taking 12 years off. Just ask Anthony Kim.

The 38-year-old returned to the golfing world this week at LIV Golf Jeddah, and it went about how you would expect it would after not playing in a competitive round for more than a decade.

Kim shot 6-over 76, dead last in the 54-player field at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club. He had seven bogeys, one birdie on the par-4 sixth and plenty of competitive rust to shake off.

Look no further than when he shanked his approach shot on the par-5 fifth hole. Later in the broadcast, Greg Norman said a drone flying overhead caused the mishit.

LIV Golf: Anthony Kim photos | Social media reaction

Kim’s round was the worst of the day by two shots (Bubba Watson shot 4-over 74). He was one of only eight players to shoot over par on the opening day of LIV Golf Jeddah.

“It was a feeling I hadn’t felt before,” Kim said of his first-tee jitters. “I was very excited to go get it done. Fairway looked very narrow, so to be able to hit the fairway was nice. Got off to a good start, and then made an unforced error with my second shot. Just too many unforced errors.

“But really played better than the score, and I know I can clean that up pretty quickly.”

Meanwhile, Adrian Meronk and Jon Rahm are tied on top of the leaderboard after opening 8-under 62s on Friday.

What should you take from Kim’s first round back? Not much. It would’ve been great to see flashes of the player he used to be, but that was more than a decade ago, and he has some rust to shake off.

Whether he can ever get back to that level, it remains to be seen.

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