Anthony Kim’s story during the 12 years he was out of professional golf was virtually unknown until Tuesday, April 2. Kim consented to tell his story and was quick to admit that he was “around some bad people.
In an interview presented by LIV Golf and hosted by David Feherty, one of the prominent broadcast analysts in the circuit, Anthony Kim shared insights into his personal life during his break from golf and shed light on his association with the league led by Greg Norman.
A story that reaches beyond golf 🙌
“I’m able to tell my story and hopefully inspire other people” 💬
Watch the full @AnthonyKim_Golf Journey Back interview with @Fehertwit dropping on LIV Golf + tomorrow at 9AM ET 👀#LIVGolf pic.twitter.com/jEeXUqjuoS
— LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) April 1, 2024
Here’s some of what Kim had to say (via Sports Illustrated):
“I’m not going to lie, I was around some bad people. People that took advantage of me. Scam artists. And when you’re 24 or 25, even 30 years old, you don’t realize the snakes that are living under your roof.”
Anthony Kim did not explicitly address his struggles with addiction, however, he did acknowledge experiencing challenging periods during his hiatus from golf. Furthermore, he provided further insight into the disparities between his previous involvement in golf and his current situation. This is how he articulated it:
“I have an interesting relationship with golf. I don’t think I ever loved it. What’s weird to me is I’m falling in love with the game. That’s such a weird spot for me. Because golf was filled with pressure.”
“Golf was filled with lots of different emotions for me. Because my family had to go through a lot to give me this opportunity to play golf. So with that added pressure, I was willing to risk a lot more. That was my nature. I was aggressive on the golf course. I was aggressive off the golf course. And that led to my demise.”
Anthony Kim acknowledges that certain supporters believe his decision to join LIV Golf was solely based on the financial security provided by the league. Here is his response to those speculations:
“I know public perception is that I took this money and ran and decided I was just going to hang out. That wasn’t the case at all. I had multiple, multiple surgeries in a few years. And my body is still not what it used to be.”
Kim himself stated that he had undergone surgeries on his shoulder, hand, and spine. However, he didn’t pass up the chance to make light of the situation:
“I think I’m actually hitting the ball farther now than when I left the game. Maybe some of this metal is helping.”
The interview was aired on the tour’s app (LIV Golf+). A documentary exploring Anthony Kim’s life, including his struggles with addiction, is anticipated to follow.
Leave a Reply