12 years in the wilderness … Anthony Kim makes return with LIV Golf

12 years in the wilderness … Anthony Kim makes return with LIV Golf

Three-time PGA Tour winner Anthony Kim will make his first professional golf appearance since 2012 at this weekend’s LIV Golf event in Jeddah, the Saudi-backed circuit announced on Monday.

Kim suffered a series of injuries and has not played a tour event since undergoing surgery on his left Achilles tendon, but has been working for months on a return to competition and had spoken with PGA Tour and LIV Golf officials.

“He oozes incredible talent,” tweeted former world number one and LIV commissioner Greg Norman.

“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.”

A lifetime ago

American Kim finished third at the 2010 Masters and made a record 11 birdies in his second round at Augusta in 2009.

On the PGA Tour, he won the National and Wachovia Championship in 2008 and the 2010 Houston Open and was ranked as high as sixth in the world in 2008.

Kim also played on triumphant United States teams at the 2008 Ryder Cup and 2009 Presidents Cup. He former a strong partnership with Phil Mickelson during those events.

Since his complete disappearance from the sport, there have been reports that Kim had a massive insurance policy that would pay him between 10 and 20 million US dollars if his injuries were career-ending.

With the exception of the odd reported-sighting, Kim’s return became more myth than fact with the former prodigy seemingly living his life in privacy away from the sport.

AFP

Staff reporter