LIV Golf have confirmed the signing of Anthony Kim after 12 years away from the professional game; injuries thwarted Kim in his early career but it was reported in January he was in talks with both the PGA Tour and LIV to make a professional return
Wednesday 28 February 2024 14:25, UK
Former Ryder Cup star Anthony Kim will join LIV Golf as a wildcard player, 12 years after he last appeared on the professional circuit.
The three-time PGA Tour winner, once ranked sixth in the world, was reported back in January to have begun ramping up his golf game and fitness regime while in talks with both LIV and the PGA Tour.
Kim last appeared in an event in May 2012 at the Wells Fargo Championship, where he withdrew after the first round and never returned to the tour after subsequent surgery on his Achilles tendon
As a wildcard, Kim will play in the remaining LIV tournaments this year - starting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Friday - in the hope that he can accrue enough points in the individual standings to earn a spot in a team for the 2025 season.
Kim said in a statement on Wednesday: "After stepping away from the game years ago due to injury, I'm happy to officially announce my return to the world of professional golf.
"It's been a long time coming and I'm very grateful for all the highs, lows and lessons learned from the first part of my career.
"I want to compete with the best players in the world, and I'm on a mission to prove to myself that I can win again."
In a post on social media earlier this week, LIV CEO Greg Norman confirmed the signing of Kim, saying: "He oozes incredible talent.
"The world has seen it in the past and now it is an honour to give the opportunity for this star to be reborn.
"Welcome back and to the LIV Golf family mate. The golf world has missed you."
Norman added: "It's clear that he has the fire to win again and show why he was one of the most compelling players in the world, and we will support him on that mission as he works to earn his way back to the top of the game.
"His talent is undeniable and we are thrilled to welcome him back to professional golf with our league."
Kim may not have played professionally for almost a dozen years, but his standing in world golf remains high owing to his achievements in his brief but fruitful time on tour.
Aged 21, Kim finished tied second in his first appearance as a professional on the PGA Tour at the Valero Texas Open, while he recorded four top-10 finishes in his first full season of 2007.
His first win, aged 22, came at the Wachovia Championship in May 2008, which he followed up with a second triumph at the AT&T National two months later.
That year he was also part of Team USA's Ryder Cup triumph at Valhalla, winning 2.5 points across the three days including an impressive 5&4 win over Sergio Garcia in the Sunday singles.
Rising to a career-high world ranking of sixth, Kim then added a third title in 2010 at the Shell Houston Open.
That year he also achieved his best finish in a major with third at The Masters, finishing four adrift of Phil Mickelson, before injuries started to affect his career and tournament appearances.
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