Bold truth: the comeback story of Anthony Kim is one of the sport’s most astonishing turnarounds, and it happened in Adelaide as he-and-LIV’s all-Australian Ripper GC both tasted success at The Grange on Sunday.
Kim delivered a flawless, bogey-free final round of 63, an incredible 9-under, to secure his first professional win in 16 years. His return from a long stretch of injury, plus struggles with drugs and alcohol, marks a historic resurgence. Across four rounds, he finished at 23-under, three shots ahead of former world No. 1 Jon Rahm, who started the day tied for the lead with Bryson DeChambeau.
Commentator Arlo White called it “one of the greatest comeback stories in any sport,” as Kim celebrated with a splash of celebratory fizz and a triumphant tap-in on the 18th green. When asked how he kept believing, Kim pointed to his family and his own stubborn resolve: “Nobody else has to believe in me, but me. For anyone else who’s struggling, you can get through anything.” The moment felt personal and powerful, a reminder that resilience can defy long odds.
Kim’s victory wasn’t just about his personal arc; it captivated a home crowd in Adelaide, who roared as he surged past Rahm and DeChambeau. He showed early momentum with birdies on 4, 5, 7, and 9 to reach the turn at 32, then intensified on the back nine with four more birdies from holes 12 to 15. That stretch gave him a three-shot cushion with three holes to play before Rahm mounted a late push with a birdie on 16 and Kim’s final killer blow—his ninth birdie on the day—on the penultimate hole. He closed with a precise wedge that pinned the ball, leaving no late drama.
This win also elevates Kim’s status within LIV Golf, as the circuit adds world ranking points for the top ten finishers. Sitting at No. 847 in the world after years of absence, a strong result here could translate into a notable climb back up the rankings. Kim’s career in its prime saw three PGA Tour wins and appearances in the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup, but his arc stalled after an Achilles injury and ongoing off-course struggles around 2012. His recent resurgence began in LIV in 2024, where he started as a wildcard and gradually found his footing, despite a slow start. He didn’t crack the top 25 in 23 events across 2024–2025, and finished second from last in the individual standings last year. Yet he bounced back with a third-place finish at the LIV Golf Promotions event in January, earning a spot on Dustin Johnson’s 4 Aces GC.
The Adelaide event also featured a notable team performance from Ripper GC. Australians Cameron Smith, Lucas Herbert, Marc Leishman, and Elvis Smylie posted a day’s-best 15-under and claimed a second Adelaide team title for Ripper GC, two shots ahead of Rahm’s Legion XIII. Leishman led the team in the final round with a bogey-free 65, tying for eighth individually, while Smith and Herbert closed at 15-under with solid rounds to keep the pressure on. Herbert, the local standout, finished the tournament tied for sixth at 16-under, while Smylie finished tied for 27th at nine-under after a 69 in the final round.
As the year begins strong for Australian golf, the two-pronged success—Kim’s dramatic individual victory and Ripper GC’s dominant team performance—sets a bold tone for the season.
What do you think: is Kim’s comeback a tour-defining moment, or does it spark debate about the pressures that come with returning to elite competition after a long layoff? And with LIV continuing to gain ranking relevance, how might this reshuffle the sport’s power dynamics this year?
