[PHOTO: Francois Nel]
Anthony Kim will make a non-LIV Golf appearance to prepare for his American return.
Kim, 38, made his long-awaited comeback to professional golf last week in Saudi Arabia, shooting 76-76-74 in LIV’s Jeddah event, 33 strokes behind winner Joaquin Niemann and 11 shots behind the next closest competitor.
“It was a rough week, but I’m excited to be playing professional golf again,” Kim said after the Saudi tournament. “I feel blessed I have this opportunity. I’ve got to work on a lot of things but had some things going this week. I’m looking to build on that and I look to be in contention this year.” However, Kim had similar struggles yesterday in his second LIV start, posting another 76 that bettered only Phil Mickelson in LIV’s Hong Kong field.
Rust after a decade-long sabbatical was expected, and Kim’s deal with LIV ensures guaranteed invites for the rest of the fledgling league’s 2024 campaign. Still, with his first outing in the United States a month away at the LIV Miami event, Kim will make a start in next week’s Asian Tour’s International Series Macau in hopes of gaining more competitive play.
The Asian Tour, which has a partnership with LIV Golf after receiving a 10-year, $US300 million investment from the Saudi-backed group in 2022, does award Official World Golf Ranking points. Players who have been relegated from LIV are allowed to play on the Asian circuit, and former US Amateur champ Andy Ogletree earned a season-long team exemption into LIV for winning the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit. Kim is among 20 LIV players expected to play in the Macau event, joining Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia and Ian Poulter.
Kim was a three-time PGA Tour winner, and played for the United States at the 2008 Ryder Cup and 2009 Presidents Cup. He has not played an American-based event since the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship, an absence that has been attributed to injury.
