The Secret Behind "Stormy Genius" Anthony Kim's First Win in 16 Years

Comeback victory at LIV Golf Adelaide draws global media attention
Norman the key figure, resolving insurance issue and backing his training
Strong support from wife Emily and daughter Isabella
Deadly combination of precise iron play and putting

During the Lunar New Year holiday, shocking news broke: the victory of golf maverick Anthony Kim of the United States.

On the 15th, he captured the title at LIV Golf Adelaide, held in Adelaide, Australia, with a total purse of 30 million dollars. In the final round, he played a flawless round with nine birdies and no bogeys. He prevailed over top-class players such as Jon Rahm of Spain and Bryson DeChambeau of the United States. He earned 4 million dollars for winning the individual competition and an additional 225,000 dollars, which is 25% of the third-place team prize, for a total of 4,225,000 dollars (about 6 billion won).

Anthony Kim, after winning for the first time in 16 years at LIV Golf Adelaide, is cheering on the podium while holding his daughter Isabella. Adelaide (Australia) = AFP Yonhap News

This victory came a full 15 years and 10 months after the PGA Tour Houston Open in April 2010. It is a trophy he lifted again after a long hiatus. The words Anthony Kim left in the past, "If you don't give up, you can achieve anything," have become reality. Tiger Woods of the United States congratulated him, saying, "It was even more moving because it was a win achieved after overcoming so many difficulties," and added, "I was impressed by how devoted he was to his family."

Born in 1985, Anthony Kim emerged around 2010 as the next-generation star to follow Tiger Woods, who was born in 1975. He debuted on the PGA Tour in 2006 and quickly made his presence felt, racking up three career wins. However, in 2012, at the peak of his prime in his late twenties, he abruptly walked away from the golf world. He did not appear on any official stage for the next 12 years. During his playing days, he relied on alcohol and drugs and destroyed himself, later confessing that "for nearly 20 years, I thought about wanting to give up on life almost every day."

Kim Anthony (left) is taking a commemorative photo with first-place Lee Jaehoon and second-place Hellgren Bjorn after finishing third and earning a full card at last month's LIV Golf promotion. Reuters Yonhap

He returned in 2024 through LIV Golf. However, his early results fell short of expectations. For two years, he did not record a single top-20 finish. Eventually, in last month's LIV Golf Promotion, effectively a promotion event with tour cards on the line, he finished third and regained his playing rights. Signs of a rebound had begun to appear when he tied for fifth at the Asian Tour PIF Saudi International in November last year and tied for 22nd at the LIV Golf season opener in Riyadh earlier this year, and he finally hit his peak in Adelaide.

'The Great White Shark' Greg Norman is the benefactor who helped Anthony Kim's comeback. AFP, Yonhap News

Behind his resurgence was the persistent persuasion of "The Great White Shark," Greg Norman of Australia. Since the early days of LIV Golf’s launch in 2022, Norman had worked hard to bring Anthony Kim on board. Although his initial approach was rejected, he did not give up. For two years, he continued to persuade Kim, traveling back and forth to the United States himself to encourage his return.

The biggest stumbling block was the insurance payout he received when he retired due to past injuries. This payment, estimated at about 20 million dollars (about 2.9 billion won), came with a clause requiring repayment if he returned to professional competition. Norman resolved this issue by offering a large signing bonus.

With Norman’s full backing, Anthony Kim devoted himself to training and joined the tour midway through the 2024 season as a wildcard. Then, two years later, he captured his first victory in 16 years in Norman’s homeland of Australia. Norman lavished praise on him, calling it "the greatest comeback in golf history."

Kim Anthony is posing with his wife Emily and daughter Isabella immediately after his win at LIV Golf Adelaide. Adelaide (Australia) - AFP/Yonhap News

His family was also a major source of strength. He is married to his wife Emily, and they have a daughter, Isabella. The turning point came when his wife, who knew little about golf, was the one who first wanted to learn the game. Teaching her himself, he rediscovered the passion he had forgotten. His wife and daughter became the anchors that kept him centered. Smiling, he said, "My wife told me, 'If you make fewer bogeys than birdies, you’ll post a good score.'"

He is not a long hitter. This season, his average driving distance on the LIV Golf circuit is 288.7 yards, ranking 30th out of 59 players. Instead, his strengths are his sharp iron shots and steady putting. His greens-in-regulation rate is 79.86%, which ranks first, and his putts per hole stand at 1.58 (tied for 27th). His ability to manage crises is also outstanding, with a scrambling success rate of 79.31%, ranking him fourth.

Now a 40-year-old veteran, he said, "I try to get 1% better every day." Once labeled an outcast of the golf world, Anthony Kim has now become a symbol injecting new energy into LIV Golf.

Kim Anthony's precise iron shots are his strength. AFP Yonhap News

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.