Anthony Kim was long considered one of golf’s greatest enigmas – a young star who reached dazzling heights and showed potential to win majors, only to disappear from the game entirely after six seasons on the PGA Tour.
Despite his short career, Kim’s resume is one most golfers would happily trade for. He had three PGA Tour victories, and was vital in both a Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup win.
Kim only ever made 15 starts in major championships over a five year span, but two top-10s in three tries at the British Open and a third-place finish at The Masters had golf fans feeling like it was only a matter of time before Kim won a major.
Injuries derailed the final years of Kim’s PGA Tour career, and he chose to walk away from the game. 12 years later, however, Kim is back, and will start a new life in the LIV Golf League, beginning Friday in Jeddah.
Here’s a look back at Kim’s golf career, year by year.
May 2007
2007 was Kim’s first full season on the PGA Tour, and he delivered a string of stellar finishes early on. After opening the season with two missed cuts, Kim delivered five top-15 finishes in his next eight starts, including a T5 at the Wachovia Championship.
Kim made the cut in both majors he played in 2007, finishing T20 in the U.S. Open, and T50 in the PGA Championship.
August 2008
Kim scored his first career PGA Tour victory in 2008, winning the Wachovia Championship, and two months later won again at the AT&T National. He went on to finish T7 at The Open Championship, and T55 in the PGA Championship.
September 2008
Kim’s excellent year earned him a spot on the 2008 Ryder Cup squad at Valhalla. Kim went 2-1-1 overall in his Ryder Cup debut, highlighted by a 5&4 thrashing of Sergio Garcia to kick off Sunday singles play, helping the U.S. to a 16.5-11.5 victory.
October 2009
Kim didn’t win on the PGA Tour in 2009 – though he did come close a few times, and impressed in majors again, posting a T20 finish in his Masters debut and a T16 in the U.S. Open.
Kim made the 2009 Presidents Cup team and went 3-1-0 as the United States beat the International team.
2009 Presidents Cup
2009 Presidents Cup
2009 Presidents Cup
February 2010
Kim arguably had one of the best months of his career in 2010, finishing second at The Honda Classic, winning the Shell Houston Open and finishing third at The Masters in just a little over 30 days.
Kim started his final round at Augusta seemingly out of contention, seven strokes back of leader Lee Westwood. A round of 65 vaulted him up the leaderboard, but he finished four strokes behind champion Phil Mickelson.
May 2011
A thumb injury midway through 2010 derailed Kim’s year, and he didn’t regain his form in 2011. Kim posted just two top-10s in 26 events, a career-worst for him, and missed double-digit cuts for the first time in his career.
June 2011
March 2012
2012 would end up being Kim’s final year on the PGA Tour, and by far the least successful season he ever had. Kim made the cut just twice in 10 starts, had a DQ on his record, and withdrew in each of his final three starts.
Not long after his final start at the Wells Fargo Championship, Kim underwent surgery to repair his left Achilles tendon. He could have potentially returned to the PGA Tour in 2013 on a medical exemption, but fans wouldn’t see him play competitive golf for another 12 years.
February 2024
Now 38 years old, Kim has made a surprise return to the course as a part of the LIV Golf League, where he’ll compete as a wild card individual player.
Kim is expected to play the remainder of the LIV schedule in 2024.
“I want to compete with the best players in the world, and I’m on a mission to prove to myself that I can win again. The next step on that journey starts now, and I’m excited to give everything I’ve got this season on the LIV Golf League.””
Anthony Kim returns to golf with LIV
