Last week, I wrote an article that essentially relegated the LIV Tour to the past tense, noting that financial pressures and broader consumer apathy were killing the tour.
I signalled out Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau as the only two men keeping the entire misguided venture afloat. There was one name I failed to mention, because the thought of him winning an event was as believable as a stunt in the Fast and Furious franchise (especially now that the events are traditional four-round affairs). Wayward genius Anthony Kim was one of LIV’s more newsworthy gambles. The former collegiate start and PGA Tour winner endured well-publicized battles with drug and alcohol abuse, stating that he had even thought about ending his life in the pits of despair.
Shades of Tiger
And he never exactly got off to a promising start last season, posting a few embarrassing rounds as he acclimatized to professional golf after a 12-month absence. But this weekend he achieved the impossible, hunting down Rahm and DeChambeau to win his first professional golf tournament since the 2010 Houston Open. It was probably the single greatest golfing comeback story since Tiger’s era-defining victory at Augusta in 2019. While I still stand by everything I said about LIV last week, Kim’s heroics have the potential to move the needle in LIV’s favour. This is the type of comeback narrative that is usually reserved for the silver screen (cue Rocky Balboa screaming g out ‘Adrianne’). But the emotional resonance of this story is just what LIV- a tour oft-accused of being little more than a mercenary cash grab- needed.
The emergence of a golfing superstar
To put this win into context, I think it’s important to take a step back and look at the incredible impact that Kim made when he burst onto the scene. The Korean American was a boogeyman in his days on the collegiate tour, with his contemporaries speaking of him in the type of hushed tones usually reserved for genius. He turned professional in 2006 and didn’t take long to make an impact. In 2008, Kim became the first American since Tiger to win two events in the same year under the age of 25. He was the youngest member of USA’s triumphant Ryder Cup side in Valhalla, taking two-and-a-half points from four matches. At just 23!
Fall from grace
But his fantastic rise to stardom was matched by an equally dramatic fall. Kim’s form tapered off and he would undergo surgery for an Achiiles tendon injury in 2012. He was eligible to return to the tour on a medical exception but that never materialized. He would go on to spend 12 years in the golfing wilderness, with the drinking and drug excesses of his frat-boy college days becoming his refuge. The entire golfing world forgot about Kim. But then LIV happened. Say what you will about the rebel tour; it offered him a chance that he would never have received on one of the mainstream tours. LIV sensed a fairytale narrative that could potentially boost their appeal (sport is about capturing hearts and minds).
A Kodak moment
And just look at the manner of Kim’s victory. He produced a Sunday for the ages, overcoming a five-stroke deficit with a stunning 63. The shots of his daughter running onto the green were just the cherry on the cake, giving the tour its first truly transcendent moment. There was no need to ham up emotion or pump the base to elevate the drama of that moment: it was there for all to see. That was exactly the type of emotionally resonant moment that LIV has been craving. The underdog overcame his adversities, rediscovering winning ways on the only tour that would give him the time of day. LIV just needs to harness this development to their advantage.
A unique opportunity
The fact that Kim is Korean American could also prove advantageous to the entire LIV project. The LIV Tour has achieved significant success through its strategic partnership with the Asian Tour, establishing an International Series that allows a pathway for Asian Tour members to backdoor their way into LIV. This initiative has helped stimulate the growth of the game in a region that has often been overlooked. Kim’s win, if utilized wisely, could help further develop the growth of the game in a relatively untapped market.
