5,795 Days Later: Anthony Kim Completes One of Golf’s Greatest Comebacks with LIV Victory

For more than a decade, Anthony Kim wasn’t just “away from golf” — he was a legend wrapped in rumor.

The former Ryder Cup star and three-time PGA Tour winner who once climbed as high as No. 6 in the world simply vanished from the competitive golf conversation after 2012.

And now, in one of the most surreal results of the modern era, Anthony Kim is a winner again.

On Sunday in Adelaide, Kim won LIV Golf Adelaide, capturing his first professional victory in nearly 16 years — a win that came 5,795 days after his last one.

This wasn’t a “feel-good top 10.” This was a full-blown, headline-stealing comeback—against the very top of the sport.

The Win: A Sunday Shockwave at LIV Adelaide

Kim didn’t coast into this. He chased down monsters.

He began the final round five shots back of the leaders — with names like Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau sitting in his way. Then he went out and posted a bogey-free 9-under 63, flipping the tournament upside down and winning at 23-under, three shots clear of Rahm.

For a player who hadn’t won since the era when Tiger Woods highlights were still being burned onto DVDs, it was the kind of Sunday that makes golf feel like a movie.

And the key detail: this wasn’t some sneaky win while the stars struggled.

Kim’s round was described by LIV as a combination of elite iron play and a “hot putter” that the field simply couldn’t match.

Why This Win Hits Different: The Disappearance Was Real

Anthony Kim’s time away was never just “he took a break.”

The public story had pieces:

• a devastating Achilles injury/surgery

• whispers about a massive insurance payout that made returning complicated

• and years of mystery where even hardcore fans weren’t sure if he’d ever play a meaningful round again

But as he explained in interviews around his return, the reality was heavier: multiple surgeries, a body that “wasn’t what it used to be,” and long personal struggles that included addiction and mental health battles.

That’s what makes “back in the winner’s circle” more than a golf headline. It’s a life headline.

The LIV Path: From Wildcard Experiment to Real Comeback

Kim’s return to pro golf happened through LIV Golf in 2024, where the league gave him a platform (and a spotlight) to try to rebuild in public.

Early on, it wasn’t pretty. He struggled, and the conversation around him became a mix of:

• “this is awesome”

• “this is uncomfortable”

• “can he actually compete again?”

Then came the turning point that makes this win even crazier: Kim had to earn his way back.

He secured his spot for the 2026 LIV season by finishing top 3 at the LIV Golf Promotions event in January 2026.

So this wasn’t just a “LIV signed him and handed him starts” story.

This was:

1. comeback attempt

2. fight for status

3. earn a 2026 spot

4. then win one of the league’s marquee events

The Big Picture: What This Means Now

1) It rewrites the “Anthony Kim was a what-if” narrative

Kim will always be a what-if—because his early peak was that electric. But winning again means the story isn’t just about what could’ve been. It’s also about what still can be.

2) LIV just got a signature moment

LIV has plenty of star power. But sports leagues live on moments people remember. A 12-year absence followed by a win over Rahm and DeChambeau is a “remember where you were” kind of storyline.

3) The comeback is now measurable

Comebacks are usually vibes and headlines. This one is tangible: a trophy, a historic “days since last win” number, and a final round scorecard that looks like something from his 2008 prime.

Anthony Kim didn’t just return.

He won.

And for a player whose story became mythology—injury, silence, speculation, the long road back—this LIV Adelaide victory is the kind of result that snaps fans out of autopilot and reminds everyone why sports are addictive in the first place.

Because sometimes the most unbelievable outcome is the one that actually happens.