Phil Mickelson is still looking for his first victory on the LIV Golf circuit, but the bookmakers do not seeing it coming at event No. 3 of the season in Jeddah this week.
Anthony Kim is favored by bookmakers to win the championship at LIV Golf Jeddah over Phil Mickelson, who has won six major titles and 45 PGA Tour victories.
Despite Mickelson’s impressive track record, his best performance on the breakaway circuit was a tie for eighth at LIV Chicago in 2022.
While Mickelson knows how to win golf tournaments, including becoming the oldest major champion at the 2021 PGA Championship, his chances of winning at LIV Golf Jeddah seem slim. Betway has priced Mickelson at 200/1 to win the title, while his former Ryder Cup teammate, Anthony Kim, has better odds at 150/1, despite not having played competitive golf for 12 years.
Kim emerged as one of the most promising talents in the sport during the late 2000s, securing three victories on the PGA Tour within a span of two years and climbing to the impressive ranking of No. 6 in the world. However, his fortunes took a turn for the worse when he encountered a series of injury setbacks.
Following three consecutive withdrawals, culminating at the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship, Kim seemed to vanish from the golfing scene, leading many to believe that his career had come to an end. Nevertheless, after a remarkable twelve-year hiatus, the American golfer has made a surprising comeback by signing with LIV Golf as a wildcard entry for the upcoming tournament in Saudi Arabia.
It remains to be seen how Kim will perform after such a lengthy absence, but the pre-tournament odds suggest that he stands a better chance compared to renowned players like Mickelson, Lee Westwood, and Martin Kaymer. Breaking his silence for the first time since 2012, Kim expressed his joy in a statement, stating, “After stepping away from the game years ago due to injury, I am delighted to officially announce my return to the world of professional golf.”
I am deeply appreciative of the experiences, challenges, and knowledge gained throughout the initial phase of my career. My aspiration is to compete against the top athletes globally and demonstrate my ability to succeed once more. The journey towards this goal commences now, and I am eager to dedicate myself fully to this season in the LIV Golf League.
LIV’s CEO Greg Norman extended a warm welcome, stating: “LIV Golf was established to provide fresh opportunities for players and fans, propelling the sport forward in innovative ways. Anthony Kim embodies the essence of what we aim to achieve.
“His exceptional skills are undeniable, and we are delighted to reintroduce him to professional golf through our league. It is evident that he possesses the determination to triumph once more and showcase why he was one of the most captivating players globally. We stand behind him in his quest to reclaim his position at the pinnacle of the game.”
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