Anthony Kim has not featured competitively in golf for 12 years – but it’s believed the former Ryder Cup star has received offers from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to return.
Anthony Kim is scheduled to make a comeback to professional golf after a 12-year break, as he has agreed to a wildcard invitation to participate in LIV Golf’s Jeddah event next week.
Kim, who emerged as a promising golfer in the early 2010s, has been absent from the sport due to various injury setbacks. However, after a hiatus of 12 years, he is now preparing to return to competitive golf. According to Golf Channel, his comeback is expected to take place on the LIV circuit.
In the upcoming 2024 season, the breakaway league has expanded its player field to accommodate 54 participants. This expansion was made possible by the inclusion of Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII team. As a result, there are now two temporary wildcard spots available at each event.
Hudson Swafford will select one player for the entire season, while the other will be shared among other players who have not secured a full-time spot on the LIV roster. Laurie Canter filled in for the first two tournaments of 2024, but Kim will take over in Saudi Arabia next week.
Kim’s last competitive event was in 2012 at the Wells Fargo Championship. Despite withdrawing from three consecutive events, he seemed to have retired. Kim had previously reached the top-10 in the world rankings and won three PGA Tour events from 2008 to 2010.
Kim, who has been dealing with injuries, took a break from golf 12 years ago. During his time away, he obtained an insurance policy worth £8 million ($10m), which would become invalid if he were to return to competition. Recently, however, Kim has been preparing for a comeback, and both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf have expressed interest in hosting his first event back.
According to Golf.com, LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman had a direct conversation with Kim over the phone to discuss the possibility of playing in Jeddah. It seems that their chat was successful, and Kim may owe thanks to his fellow countryman and LIV Golf star Dustin Johnson. Johnson reportedly played a role in connecting Kim with Norman after the league initially showed little interest in the former tour star.
During his seven seasons on the PGA Tour, Kim earned just over £9.6 million ($12.3m) in prize money. His best finish in the FedEx Cup was in 2008, where he ranked fourth in the season-long standings. Kim had the opportunity to increase his career earnings last week in Jeddah, as there was a substantial £20 million ($25m) purse up for grabs for those competing.
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