‘Overwhelmed’ Kim takes first win after 12 years away

LIV Golf Adelaide – final leaderboard

-23 A Kim (US); -20 J Rahm (Spa); -17 B DeChambeau (US), T Hatton (Eng), P Uihlein (US)

Selected others: -15 C Smith (Aus); -13 G McDowell (NI); -12 D Johnson (US); -11 R Bland (Eng)

An “overwhelmed” Anthony Kim completed a remarkable return to golf with victory at the LIV event in Adelaide – his first tournament win after a 12-year absence during which he battled drug and alcohol addiction.

The 40-year-old disappeared from professional golf in 2012 after a string of injuries and said he suffered “very dark moments” as he fell victim to “scam artists” and “snakes” during his absence from the sport.

The American revealed last year that he had battled drug and alcohol addition, and had thought about ending his life.

Kim initially joined LIV Golf as a wildcard in 2024 and recently became part of Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces team following compatriot Patrick Reed leaving the breakaway league.

The win in Adelaide is his first title since the 2010 Houston Open on the PGA Tour.

“I always believed that this day would come,” said Kim. “With the support of my wife, my daughter and my mum, I knew anything was possible but for it to actually happen is incredible.

“I just wanted to take it all in. In my twenties, I wasn’t able to enjoy the moment but having my daughter and my wife here has made it the best situation I could possibly ask for.

In 2008, Kim became the first American under the age of 25 since Tiger Woods to win two PGA Tour events in the same year.

He was the youngest member of the United States’ victorious 2008 Ryder Cup side, taking two-and-a-half points from four matches at the age of 23 during Europe’s defeat at Valhalla.

In Adelaide, he started the final round five shots behind overnight leaders Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau.

However, Kim sank nine birdies in a round of 63 to finish top of the leaderboard on 23 under at Grange Golf Club.

Rahm ended the event with a 71, which included two birdies and a bogey, with the Spaniard three shots back on 20 under.

DeChambeau carded two birdies and four bogeys, with the American’s final-round 74 leaving him on 17 under, along with compatriot Peter Uihlein (68) and England’s Tyrell Hatton (67).

“It’s been overwhelming,” said Kim. “But I’m never not going to fight for my family.

“God gave me a talent. I was able to produce some good golf today, I knew it was coming.