After a 12-year absence, Anthony Kim returned to professional golf at the LIV Golf Jeddah tournament but struggled to find his rhythm on the course. Kim, who last played on the PGA Tour in 2012 before stepping away due to injuries, finished last in the 54-man field after carding a disappointing 6-over 76. Despite his disappointing performance, Kim expressed frustration at feeling like he played better than his results showed.
Throughout the round, Kim faced challenges including a rough start with a bogey on the first hole and continued struggles on the course. He ended the day 14 strokes behind co-leaders Adrian Meronk and Jon Rahm, who were setting the pace at the tournament. Despite Kim’s individual performance, Rahm’s team, Legion XIII, managed to take the lead in the team competition, just one stroke ahead of Louis Oosthuizen’s team.
Greg Norman, LIV Golf CEO and commissioner, noted that Kim seemed distracted during his round by a drone flying overhead, which may have impacted his performance. The CEO had previously reached out to Kim more than two years ago about joining LIV Golf, and he praised Kim for the progress he has made in getting his life back on track, crediting his wife and daughter for their support.
While Kim’s return to professional golf may have started on a challenging note, there is no doubt that his presence on the course is generating buzz in the golf world once again. Fans will be eager to see how Kim bounces back in the upcoming rounds of the tournament and whether he can regain the form that made him a standout player in his earlier career.
