With demons behind him, LIV Golf’s Anthony Kim hopes to keep inspiring people

Anthony Kim hits down the fairway during the first round of LIV Golf Virginia golf tournament at Trump National Golf Club on May 7. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

 

Considered the next big thing in men’s golf in the mid-2000s, Anthony Kim instead had his career derailed by injuries and substance abuse.

 

Now 40 and his demons behind him, Kim has been playing competitive golf for the past couple of years for LIV Golf, a breakaway tour founded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) in 2021. After first joining as a wild card without team affiliation to end his long hiatus from the sport, Kim became the newest member of 4Aces Golf Club for this season, with former world No. 1 Dustin Johnson as captain.

 


 

Following two subpar seasons in LIV Golf, Kim surged to an emotional victory at LIV Golf Adelaide in February this year, the Korean American’s first professional win in 16 years. The cathartic breakthrough capped a comeback story that was as inspiring as it was improbable.

 

Kim, a son of Korean immigrants, is back in the land of his parents’ birth this week for LIV Golf Korea, which tees off Thursday at Asiad Country Club in Busan.

 

The Los Angeles native, who had three PGA Tour wins before turning 25, also played at the inaugural LIV Golf Korea last year in the western city of Incheon. He finished in 53rd place then, second from last, after shooting 11-over 227 in the three-round event.

 

LIV Golf Team Championship Michigan at The Cardinal at Saint John’s on Aug. 22, 2025, in Plymouth, Michigan. [AFP/YONHAP]

 

“I don’t know if you could call that golf, but I tried to play golf,” Kim deadpanned during his pretournament press conference Tuesday. “Obviously, I’m a Korean American, very proud of both sides, very excited to be here to play in front of the great fans. I do, however, feel like when I play good, I’m more Korean and more American, and then when I play bad, nobody wants me. So hopefully, I play good everywhere I go.”

 

In addition to his victory in Adelaide, Kim tied for sixth at LIV Golf Virginia last week for his second top-10 showing of the year. He sits fifth in the individual player standings with 270.21 points and has made just over $5.4 million.

 

That’s some heady stuff for a golfer who had vanished from the public consciousness for over a decade.

 

“I do feel like a lot more people have started following my story because my struggles aren’t for golf or for sports. It’s what a lot of families go through,” Kim said. “So I think working hard gives people some motivation to know they can do it, too. It’s not like I’m special. I just have a great support system, a great family, great inspiration for my daughter and my wife and my mother. Just trying to do the best I can every day. Not every day’s a success, but I know that if I just keep working hard, some good’s going to come out of it.”

 

Anthony Kim hits from a bunker during the team championship after the final round of LIV Golf Virginia golf tournament at Trump National Golf Club on May 10. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

 

Kim got to celebrate his win in Adelaide with his wife Emily and their young daughter Bella. For the victory ceremony, Kim brought Bella with him onto the stage, holding her in one arm and raising the other in front of a delighted crowd.

 

Kim said he was “very proud” of his girl and added he hopes she can inherit some great qualities from his mother, Mi-ryoung.

 

“A lot of the work ethic I’ve gotten and the belief in myself I’ve gotten are from my mother,” Kim said. “She came over to America as a Korean immigrant, not even knowing the language and struggling at first. I think it’s undeniable that Korean people in general work very hard and hopefully, that’s something that [Bella] can learn from. And I’m very proud that I picked that up from my mom or else I wouldn’t be sitting here today. So hopefully, that’s something my daughter will keep with her.”

 

Yonhap