Anthony Kim added a stunning-yet-true chapter to his storybook return to skilled golf by successful LIV Golf Adelaide on Sunday.
The 40-year-old American got here from 5 strokes again after three rounds with an emphatic three-shot victory after his bogey-free spherical of 9-under 63 at The Grange Golf Membership.
“I actually do not know what to say proper now,” mentioned Kim, who has been open and trustworthy about his previous struggles and the way he obtained sober. “It has been overwhelming. I am by no means not going to struggle for my household. God gave me a expertise and I used to be capable of produce some good golf immediately. I knew it was coming. No one else has to consider in me however me. For anyone who’s struggling, you may get by way of something.”
The build-up to Sunday centered on Jon Rahm of Spain and American Bryson DeChambeau, co-leaders at 19 underneath after three rounds and arguably LIV Golf’s greatest stars. Kim, at 14 underneath, was someplace out of the body though he was in third place.
The present stars have been mainly left in his mud, as Kim carded birdies at Nos. 4, 5, 7 and 9, then a run from Nos. 12-15 and on the par-4 No. 17 as an exclamation level to his first skilled win in practically 16 years for the reason that 2010 Shell Houston Open on the PGA Tour.
Rahm shot 1-under 71 for end three strokes again at 20 underneath for his second consecutive second-place end. His unremarkable spherical featured birdies at Nos. 4 and 16 — each par-4 holes — and a bogey on the par-4 No. 8.
DeChambeau posted a 2-over 74 to fall to a tie for third with England’s Tyrrell Hatton (67 on Sunday) and Peter Uihlein (68) of america.
DeChambeau encountered bother on the entrance 9 with bogeys at Nos. 2, 3, 6 and seven. He birdied the primary two holes of the again 9 and made par on the remaining.
Kim’s bogey-free effort — which tied the course file — adopted rounds of 67, 67 and 68 with a complete of three bogeys and one eagle within the third spherical on the par-5 No. 9. He additionally collected the $4 million prize for first place.
His event efficiency is all of the extra spectacular due to his journey to be on this place, which was his first begin as a member of 4Aces GC.
Kim joined Dustin Johnson’s LIV Golf workforce earlier than the second occasion of the 2026 season, changing Patrick Reed on a full-time foundation.
The one-time rising star, who turned professional in 2006, returned from a 12-year hiatus in 2024 and performed the previous two seasons on this tour as a wild card. Nevertheless, he was relegated after the 2025 season and needed to undergo the Promotions occasion, the place he made the minimize on the quantity earlier than ending third to regain his place within the league.
However it wasn’t till Reed introduced his intention to return to the PGA Tour {that a} spot on a workforce lastly opened up for Kim. It wasn’t an computerized sure for Kim, who mentioned he was drawn to the 4Aces as a result of he likes Johnson and fellow new teammates Thomas Pieters and LIV newcomer Thomas Detry.
A 3-time winner throughout six seasons on the PGA Tour in his 20s, Kim had Achilles tendon surgical procedure in 2012 and has been open about his rehab from drug and alcohol habit throughout his hiatus from skilled golf.
Kim failed to complete higher than thirty sixth and positioned fiftieth or worse in 5 of 11 LIV Golf occasions in 2024. He performed in 13 occasions final 12 months, with a T25 in Dallas and a T29 in Miami his solely finishes higher than T44.
Kim wound up within the relegation zone, and it appeared his LIV Golf days could possibly be numbered. However he rebounded to earn a wild-card spot within the Promotions occasion after which was signed to 4Aces after opening the season with a T22 in Riyadh final week.
Along with his T22 final week, Kim closed out 2025 with a T5 on the PIF Saudi Worldwide. He has risen from 4,221st within the Official World Golf Rating two years in the past to No. 847, and that climb can proceed with LIV gamers now receiving world rankings factors for top-10 finishes. The win Sunday will enhance Kim that rather more up the rankings.
Ripper GC claimed the workforce title at 55 underneath after a 15 underneath on Sunday. Lucas Herbert (69) tied for third individually at 16 underneath and workforce captain Cameron Smith (70) tied for eighth.
Rahm’s Legion XIII positioned second at 53 underneath after 8 underneath on the day, and 4Aces GC, boosted by Kim’s successful effort, completed third at 52 underneath.
–Area Degree Media
