10 things to know about Anthony Kim ahead of his LIV Golf return
Anthony Kim looks set to make his long-awaited return to professional golf this week at LIV Jeddah. Here's everything you need to know about the exciting American.
Anthony Kim is set to make a sensational comeback to the game with LIV Golf in Jeddah.
The prodigious talent is one of golf's greatest "what-ifs", having had to effectively retire due to a string of unfortunate injuries aged 26.
Following major surgery to his Achilles tendon, Kim vanished from the professional golf scene in 2012.
The widely accepted explanation is Kim cashed in on an insurance cheque rumoured to have been in the region of $10-20m.
Despite teasing swing videos on Instagram since his departure, Kim has remained dormant ever since.
But following conversations with LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman in recent weeks, it appears Kim will be teeing it up in Saudi Arabia as a LIV wildcard.
Kim has reportedly signed a contract with the breakaway league and will receive a small cash bonus for his time.
LIV supposedly wanted to sign the former PGA Tour star to play in their events but were reluctant to shell out the big bucks for a player who hasn't competed in over a decade.
Ahead of his highly anticipated return, here's a list of 10 things you need to know about Anthony Kim.
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1. He was born and raised in Los Angeles
He was born in Los Angeles on 19 June1985, and went to La Quinta High School before attending the University of Oklahoma.
2. People believed he could be the next Tiger Woods
Kim won three times on the PGA Tour before he turned 25.
Only four players in the previous 30 years had equalled the achievement. They were Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott and Sergio Garcia.
His early career success led many to speculate that Kim could be the next big thing in golf.
3. He enjoyed a prodigious amateur career at Oklahoma University
Kim was a three-time all-American during his college years and set the individual scoring record at Oklahoma University with a season scoring average of 71.73.
4. He got his PGA Tour career off to a hot start
Kim came second on his PGA Tour debut at the 2006 Valero Texas Open, finishing second to Eric Axley by three shots.
5. He won three times on the PGA Tour
Two wins came in the 2008 season at the Wachovia Championship and the AT&T National, and his third came at the Shell Houston Open in 2010.
6. He holds a record at Augusta National
Kim carded 11 birdies in the second round of the 2009 Masters, setting a record for the most birdies made in a single round, beating Nick Price's 1986 record of ten.
7. He managed three top-10 finishes in major championships
His best major finish came at the 2010 Masters where he finished third.
Lee Westwood earned second place, with Phil Mickelson taking home the green jacket.
His other two top-10 finishes both came at the Open Championship. He finished T-7 in 2008 and T-5 in 2011.
8. He earned some serious cash during his brief spell on the PGA Tour
Kim earned just over $12m during his fleeting professional career, with his best year (2008) earning him $4.66m, thanks to two victories.
9. He enjoyed plenty of team success
Kim represented America at both amateur and professional levels, appearing at the 2005 Walker Cup, the 2008 Ryder Cup, and the 2009 Presidents Cup.
He was victorious on all three occasions, with his most notable personal win coming against Sergio Garcia in the 2008 Ryder Cup. He smashed Garcia 5&4.
10. Injuries prevented him from fulfilling his potential
Kim suffered a series of injuries towards the end of his career on the PGA Tour, with an Achilles tendon tear eventually causing him to hang up his clubs in 2012.
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Johnny joined GolfMagic as Reviews Editor in 2023 having worked for Sports Impact for two years as Head of Social Media, working alongside prominent golf brands including Galvin Green, Motocaddy and Wilson.
