Anthony Kim's Emotional LIV Golf Adelaide Triumph After 16-Year Wait
In a stunning comeback that captivated the golfing world, Anthony Kim secured his first professional victory in over 16 years at LIV Golf Adelaide, dedicating the emotional win to his young daughter Bella and delivering a powerful message of resilience to anyone facing life's challenges.
A Family Moment on the Final Green
The 40-year-old American, once ranked world number six, was embraced on the final green by his wife Emily and their daughter Bella in scenes that moved spectators and fellow competitors alike. Kim, who shot a spectacular final round 63 to overtake overnight leaders Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, described the moment as transformative.
"Best moment of my life so far," Kim declared. "Obviously when Bella was born, Emily and my life changed. But to be able to share this moment, even though Bella won't understand it now, one day she will. For her to run on the green and see her dad isn't a loser was one of the most special moments of my life."
From Darkness to Redemption
Kim's journey to this victory has been anything but straightforward. After an Achilles' tendon injury derailed his promising career, the former Ryder Cup star battled drug and alcohol addictions that led to multiple rehabilitation stints and a 12-year absence from professional golf.
His return to LIV Golf in 2024 as a wildcard proved challenging initially, with Kim failing to win a point across two seasons and facing relegation. However, after coming through qualifying last month, he found his form at precisely the right moment in Adelaide.
"I want to be a good example," Kim reflected. "I would say that I wasn't the best person, the best partner, the best son I could be when I was younger. But who I am today is a completely different person. With God, my family, my sobriety being the key things to my life, I can go as far as I want."
A Platform for Inspiration
The $4 million victory marked Kim's first professional win since the 2010 Shell Houston Open, though the golfer insisted the financial reward was secondary to the opportunity to inspire others.
"I told my wife this: The only way I get to reach the amount of people I want to reach is by winning," Kim explained. "I can talk about my struggles all I want, but if I don't have the platform, then I won't reach as many people. When I was in rehab, that was my goal. I said, if I got out of here, I'd like to help people."
Kim's powerful message to those facing difficulties was characteristically direct: "Don't f****** quit."
Competitors Moved by Emotional Victory
Even his closest competitors were touched by the emotional nature of Kim's triumph. Jon Rahm, who finished three shots behind in second place, admitted to being deeply affected by the scenes on the 18th green.
"In a weird way, as a competitor, I probably shouldn't say this, but that was a joy to watch," Rahm confessed. "To see that image on 18 of him hugging his wife and daughter, any man with a soul is going to have a soft spot for that. I was almost tearing up."
A Positive Story for LIV Golf
The victory provided welcome positive news for LIV Golf after a difficult off-season that saw major champions Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed depart the Saudi-backed league and only partial awarding of world ranking points.
In the team event, home favorites Ripper GC, led by former Open champion Cam Smith, claimed victory at The Grange. But the individual story belonged unequivocally to Kim, whose journey from addiction and obscurity to championship glory resonated far beyond the golf course.
"I want to inspire people," Kim concluded. "My goal is to inspire the people that are struggling because I feel like the world needs more of that today. The message to everyone battling issues? Don't f****** quit."
