Editor's note: Kim shot 76 in his LIV Golf opener, read about it here.
Anthony Kim has been the mystery man of professional golf.
Rumors of his whereabouts have been persistent since he walked away in 2012 and the mill cranked up to full speed in the last month, with the LIV Las Vegas event during Super Bowl week rife with stories that Kim would make his comeback at the tournament in Saudi Arabia.
And now here we are. But how interested are we in the return of a 38-year-old who has been basically in exile for over a decade?
Charles Laberge/LIV Golf
A 2015 interview with Associated Press reporter Doug Ferguson gave the first glimpse into what happened to the three-time PGA Tour winner.
On top of an Achilles injury, Kim had issues with his rotator cuff, labrum, spine and hand, adding up to what he said was six or seven surgeries in a three-and-a-half-year period.
How interesting is it to watch a physically broken ex-pro? Kim is no Tiger Woods.
"I've missed the competitive part of the game" 💬#LIVGolf @anthonykim_golf pic.twitter.com/gzr05OdyMn
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) February 28, 2024
Is the return worthwhile to anyone?
From LIV Golf’s standpoint, it’s about signing a player that was a needle-mover in a past life and gambling that he still has something left in the tank.
Whether he excels or not, the cost—rumored to be in the $5-to-$7.5-million range—is lint in LIV’s proverbial pocket.
If Kim shows some game and contends for a win, then we've got a story. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. One shot at a time and we will reconvene after Sunday’s final round for a postmortem.
