Anthony Kim's struggles continue as Phil Mickelson has nightmare in Hong Kong

Anthony Kim's struggles since returning to professional golf after a 12-year hiatus continued on day one of LIV's event in Hong Kong. 

Kim, 38, finished dead last on his hugely anticipated comeback last week in Jeddah and finds himself well off the pace once again. 

By day's end at Hong Kong Golf Club, the American's 6-over par 76 saw him T-52 at the bottom of the leaderboard. 

Kim managed two double bogeys, four bogeys and one solitary birdie in the first 18 holes of the $25m prize purse event. 

Remarkably for Kim, that was four strokes better than Phil Mickelson, who endured a nightmare day. 

Lefty fired an 80 that included three double bogeys and four bogeys which left him 17 strokes behind day one leaders Dean Burmester and Abraham Ancer. 

Burmester put circles on his scorecard a 4, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 to reach 7-under. 

"For me personally, it was a great day," he said.  

"I've been pretty ill this week. It hasn't been the best week for me. But seems to be every time I get ill, I seem to play okay, so that's great news.

"I had a slow start, and then went through a stretch there on the back nine where I think I went birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie, and that eagle putt just caught the right edge perfectly and beautifully.

"When it's into the wind like that, it's a good eagle. I'm really happy with the way my day went, obviously, and happy with the way the boys played, too."

Burmester was referring to the Stinger team, who lead by one over Bryson DeChambeau's Crushers on 15-under. 

Elsewhere, LIV's marquee signing Jon Rahm sits T-18 on 3-under. 

.@JonRahmOfficial has it going today



He's T1 with 5 to play #LIVGolf @LegionXIIIgc pic.twitter.com/PmkdddrXAs

— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) March 8, 2024

Leaderboard after round one:

D. Burmester, A. Ancer -7

M. Jones, E. Chacarra, H. Varner, C. Howell III, M. Kaymer, L. Oosthuizen -6

B. Koepka, B. DeChambeau -5

Team:

Stinger -16

Crushers -15

Fireballs -12

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