Anthony Kim capped off a remarkable comeback to his career by winning the LIV Golf Adelaide for the first time in almost 16 years on Sunday with a final nine-under 63.
The 40-year-old American has been away from competitive golf for 12 years amid drug and alcohol problems and had to play in a qualifying tournament last month to play another season on the LIV Tour.
But in Sunday’s tournament in Australia, Kim finished at 23 under par, winning by three strokes over Jon Rahm, who was tied for the lead in the third round with Bryson DeChambeau.
“I was emotional, but I’m not going to stop fighting for my family,” said Kim, who was hugged by his wife Emily and young daughter Bella after clinching the title with a par on the 18th green.
“God gave me the talent. I was able to play some good golf today. I knew it was coming. No one needs to believe in me but me. For those who are struggling, you can overcome anything.”
“It’s pretty insane for that to actually happen.”
Kim and his wife embrace their daughter Bella (Photo by Jon Ferrey/LIV Golf via AP)
Playing in shorts on a sunny day in front of a large crowd at The Grange Golf Club, Kim sank putts of 17, 11, 14 and 17 feet for four straight birdies on holes 12-15.
He hit a 15-footer on the par-4 17th hole and took a three-shot lead by the end, running up the 18th fairway to the cheers of a large crowd.
He missed a 6-foot birdie that was one stroke short of the course record and made par for his first win on the PGA Tour since the 2010 Houston Open.
An emotional Kim hugs his wife on the 18th green (Photo by Jon Ferrey/LIV Golf via AP)
Kim played on the U.S. Ryder Cup winning team in 2008 and rose to No. 6 in the world rankings. He played six games on the Asian Tour last year, making four appearances and finishing tied for fifth at the Saudi International.
DeChambeau shot a 74 to tie for third place at 17 under with Tyrell Hatton (67) and Peter Uihlein (68).
The all-Australian Ripper team of Cam Smith, Lucas Herbert, Marc Leishman and Elvis Smiley, who won in Riyadh last week on his tour debut, also won for the second time in Adelaide in two consecutive weeks.
Rahm’s Region XIII team took second place, and Kim led 4Aces to third place.
‘Best moment of my life so far’ – Kim reflects on becoming a ‘completely different person’
Kim, who last year publicly opened up about her long battle with drugs and alcohol and her recovery after spending time in rehab, said after Sunday’s win: “I can tell you that when I was younger, I wasn’t the best person, the best partner, or whatever you want to call it, the best son.
“But today I am a completely different person. I can go as far as I want because God, family and temperance are important in my life.”
“This was the best moment of my life,” Kim, 40, said after an emotional family celebration on the 18th green.
“Obviously, Emily and I’s lives changed when Bella was born.
“But to be able to share this moment, even if Bella doesn’t understand, one day she will understand. For her to be able to run on the green and see that her father wasn’t a loser was one of the most special moments of my life.”
He added, “I want to inspire people. I said to my wife: The only way to reach the number of people I want to reach is to win.”
“I can talk all I want about my suffering, but if I don’t have a platform, I can’t reach as many people. When I was in rehab, that was my goal. I said I wanted to help people when I got out of here, and golf wasn’t on the table.
“So being able to have this platform and having him and Liv welcome me with open arms has been huge for my growth and my confidence that other people believe in me.”
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