{"id":483856,"date":"2026-02-16T14:55:43","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T14:55:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/483856\/"},"modified":"2026-02-16T14:55:43","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T14:55:43","slug":"a-raucous-sunday-showdown-awaits-at-liv-golf-adelaide-australian-golf-digest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/483856\/","title":{"rendered":"A raucous Sunday showdown awaits at LIV Golf Adelaide \u2013 Australian Golf Digest"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm continue to be in awe of Anthony Kim\u2019s comeback as the former Ryder Cup star played his way into the final group at LIV Golf Adelaide.<\/p>\n

But no one could have summed up the L.A. native\u2019s climb back to tournament golf\u2014after spending 12 years away from the game while dealing with drug and alcohol struggles\u2014than the man himself.<\/p>\n

\u201c[The goal] was always to be in the final group, giving yourself a chance to win a golf tournament, or else I wouldn\u2019t have been practicing and playing on this league, Kim said Saturday in Australia. \u201cBut if you\u2019d have asked me three years ago, I would have told you [that] you were on drugs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kim earned his spot in the final trio at Adelaide\u2019s The Grange courtesy of a four-under 68 on day three, which improved his total to 14 under for the tournament. Kim will begin the fourth and final round five shots behind co-leaders Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm.<\/p>\n

\u201cI decided I was just going to let all the practice that I\u2019ve been doing take over,\u201d Kim said, noting that while he\u2019s five back \u201cI\u2019m at least putting myself where I feel like I belong, and the practice is paying off.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rahm (66) and DeChambeau (64) ignited the large, vocal Aussie crowds by locking into an enthralling battle that culminated with the Spaniard holing out for eagle on the par-4 18th to join DeChambeau at 19 under.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a really good number, 62 meters into the wind,\u201d Rahm said. \u201cI was trying to land it seven short [and] obviously executed it pretty well, and the rest is what you all saw.\u201d<\/p>\n

The crowd reaction for Jon Rahm’s hole out on the 18th in Adelaide \ud83d\udde3\ufe0f https:\/\/t.co\/7NwFmYPoln<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/0RPRxDGHpm<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Legion XIII (@LegionXIIIgc) February 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

THIS IS INSANE \ud83d\ude31<\/p>\n

Rahmbo holes out for eagle on 18 to tie with Bryson heading into the final round. You can’t make this up \ud83d\udd25#LIVGolfAdelaide<\/a> | @LegionXIIIgc<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/OgdMXVKX8W<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 LIV Golf (@livgolf_league) February 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

One of the dual major winners, DeChambeau or Rahm, are likely to win LIV Golf\u2019s flagship event on Sunday. But the pair could not help but marvel at the transformation of Kim during the past two years. The trio will tee up together in the final group at 11:45 a.m. local time (8:15 p.m. E.T.).<\/p>\n

Kim, a three-time PGA Tour winner, walked away from pro golf due to injuries in 2012 and had become a ghost-like figure for more than a decade. During that time, Kim battled mental health issues and addiction. He turned his life around, began practising and was invited to play LIV Golf as a wildcard player in 2024.<\/p>\n

Late last year, Kim finished T-5 at the Asian Tour\u2019s PIF Saudi International, before earning one of three cards from LIV Golf\u2019s Promotions (qualifying school) in January.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat an incredible story, first off,\u201d two-time U.S. Open champion DeChambeau said. \u201cGoing from the lowest of lows, almost moving away from this earth and then coming back and really taking accountability and raising his little girl and being a family man and being 1 percent better every day. It\u2019s an inspiring story.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s an incredible talent. He\u2019s starting to show it, and for him to be in the final group will be fun. I haven\u2019t played with him yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rahm heard Kim\u2019s story first-hand last week at LIV Golf Riyadh and was moved.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was able to enjoy a car ride back to the hotel from the golf course in Riyadh, which somehow there\u2019s traffic at midnight there, so it was quite a bit over an hour, and he shared quite a bit of his story with me,\u201d Rahm said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat he\u2019s doing is nothing short of remarkable. To see him now being part of a team [Dustin Johnson\u2019s 4Aces] after earning his spot back in the league, making a 15-footer on the second day to get into the final qualifying day, he\u2019s been proving it. I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if [this season] he\u2019s hoisting [a] trophy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Well, there\u2019s one up for grabs on Sunday at LIV Golf Adelaide, and now there\u2019s Official World Golf Ranking points.<\/p>\n

A thrilling final day awaits.<\/p>\n

This article was originally published on golfdigest.com<\/p>\n