Anthony Kim is one of modern golf’s greatest mysteries. There are so many questions and very few answers.
What happened to Anthony Kim? Why did Anthony Kim walk away from golf? Will Anthony Kim ever play professionally again? Why does he polarize the golf community?
We thought it would be fun to explore this topic – see if we can figure out what makes him such an interesting character in the game of golf.
In this article, we will cover the following:
- Who Is Anthony Kim?
- Anthony Kims PGA Tour Career
- Why hasn’t Anthony Kim Played again?
- Why Is There Still Interest In Anthony Kim?
- What is Anthony Kim Doing Now?
What happened to Anthony Kim? Let’s see if we can solve the puzzle.
What Happened to Anthony Kim? Who Is He?
He was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1985 – his full name is Anthony Ha-Jin Kim. He started playing golf at a young age and had an impressive amateur career.
Following his career at La Quinta High School, he played at Oklahoma for 3 seasons, setting the school record for the lowest career scoring average (in relation to par).
Kim also played on the 2005 Walker Cup team for the victorious US team.
In 2006, he decided to turn professional and quickly made his presence felt.
Kim finished 2nd in the 2006 Valero Texas Open on a sponsors exemption and secured his PGA Tour card via Q school in 2007.
What Happened To Anthony Kim? His PGA Tour Career
Anthony Kim was an instant start on the PGA Tour. Fans loved his game and his attitude. Kim played with confidence and swagger.
He had 4 top-10 finishes during his rookie campaign and won his first tournament at the Wachovia Championship in May 2008.
Kim won his second tournament 2 months later at the AT&T National and became a “household name” in the golf world.
If we had to pick a moment when fans fell in love with him, it would be the 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club.
Kim played a critical role in the US winning – he crushed Sergio Garcia 5&4 in his single match – his personality was perfect for the Ryder Cup environment!
He had a similar performance in the 2009 President’s Cup, and it looked like Anthony Kim would be a critical component of Team USA for years to come.
Kim won his 3rd PGA event in 2010 at the Shell Houston Open, but this was the year that the “Anthony Kim injury bug” started to hamper his performance.
At first, he attempted to play through his injuries, but in 2012, he decided to have surgery on his Achilles tendon.
The expectation was that he would return to professional golf in 9-12 months, but he has never played in another event.
This is where the mystery starts – why didn’t he return to the game? What happened to Anthony Kim?
What Happened To Anthony Kim? Why hasn’t He Played again?
The obvious answer is that he never recovered from his injury, but there have been reports of him playing golf for fun, and he has been spotted in the occasional charity event.
If it isn’t a physical issue, what happened to Anthony Kim? The details are hazy, but it appears to be related to an insurance policy.
It has been reported that there was an Anthony Kim injury insurance policy that would pay him between $10MM – $20MM if an injury ended his PGA Tour career.
To collect this money, he cannot play again. Fox News reported in 2022 that if he takes one swing on the PGA Tour, the policy is voided.
It is an interesting choice? If Kim was healthy and could compete at a high level, he could easily make up that money, but nothing is guaranteed in golf.
Do you take the guaranteed money and stay “retired,” or try to make a comeback?
Over the last decade, there have been rumors of him coming back. At times, Kim has said he can no longer play golf professionally, but at other times, he has sounded more optimistic.
He hinted at a comeback in 2021 via social media, but it didn’t happen. Kim continues to live in Dallas, TX.
What Happened To Anthony Kim? Why Is There Still Interest?
What is it about Anthony Kim that keeps the golf world interested? He has played in an event in 10+ years, but rumors continue circulating online.
Kim was successful on the PGA Tour, but it was a short career (less than 5 years). Why are golf fans still curious about him?
From what we can tell, 3 factors make Anthony Kim hard to resist for golf fans:
#1: Kim Was So Much Fun To Watch
You might call it the “IT factor” – Anthony Kim had it all. He was a great player with a personality that made you smile.
He carried himself around the golf course like he knew he was better than you. He wore big, flashy belt buckles and threw fist pumps when his birdie putts dropped.
Anthony Kim had the same swagger as a young Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy. He was a “must-see TV.”
What happened to Anthony Kim? Golf fans who watched him play always hope the story isn’t over – they still have dreams of a comeback.
#2: We Didn’t Get To See How Good He Could Be
In many ways, golf fans feel cheated – they never got to see how good Anthony Kim could be.
How many majors would have won? How many Ryder Cup teams could he have led to victory? Could he chase down Tiger on a Sunday in a major?
He was gone too soon. As golf fans, we feel cheated. We would all love to see him make a triumphant return!
#3: We All Love A Good Mystery
What happened to Anthony Kim? It sounds like a true-crime podcast. It is human nature to be interested in a mystery and wants to try and figure it out.
The details behind Kim’s departure from the game always have interested golf fans. Rumors swirled about the insurance policy and his injuries.
We know most of the facts but still aren’t sure why he hasn’t returned. Was it because of the guaranteed money, or did he lose confidence in his golf game?
Did his injuries make it impossible for him to play the same way? We know it was a combination of the 3 (injuries, insurance, golf game), but we may never know the ratio.
We suspect the question “What happened to Anthony Kim?” will continue to interest golf fans for years.
What Happened To Anthony Kim? What is Anthony Kim Doing Now?
With each passing day, it seems less likely we will see him tee it up again in a professional golf event, but that doesn’t stop the rumors.
In early 2023, there was a rumor online that he might join the LIV Tour. Like most Anthony Kim rumors, it didn’t happen but it got everyone excited again.
Who knows – in another 12 years, we might start seeing rumors about Kim playing on the Champions Tour!
There is no indication that Kim plans to make a comeback, but we will continue to hold out hope that he finds his way back to the game one day.
