ADELAIDE, Australia — Anthony Kim secured his first victory in nearly 16 years at LIV Golf Adelaide on Sunday, concluding a remarkable return to the sport with a final round of 9-under 63, winning by three strokes.
The 40-year-old American had taken a 12-year hiatus from competitive golf due to struggles with substance abuse and had to participate in a qualifying event last month to earn a spot for another season on the LIV Tour.
“For it to actually happen is pretty insane,” Kim remarked. “I just want to express my gratitude to everyone who has supported me.”
Competing in shorts before a large audience on a sunny day at The Grange Golf Club, Kim achieved four consecutive birdies on holes 12 through 15, sinking putts from 17, 11, 14, and 17 feet.
He made a 15-foot putt on the par-4 17th to extend his lead to three strokes heading into the final hole, enjoying the encouragement of the sizable crowd as he walked up the 18th fairway.
He narrowly missed a 20-foot birdie attempt, finishing just shy of the course record, but tapped in for par to mark his first win since the 2010 Houston Open.
Kim concluded the tournament at 23 under par. Jon Rahm, who was tied for the third-round lead with Bryson DeChambeau, finished in second place after a round of 71.
“I was able to produce some good golf today, and I knew it was coming,” said Kim, a three-time PGA Tour champion whose best previous finish in LIV was a tie for 25th. “Nobody else has to believe in me but me. And, for anyone facing difficulties, you can overcome anything.”
Kim reached a career-high ranking of No. 6 in the world in 2008, the same year he was part of a victorious U.S. Ryder Cup team. Last year, he played six events on the Asian Tour, making the cut in four of them, and finished tied for fifth in the Saudi International.
DeChambeau recorded a 74, tying for third with Tyrell Hatton (67) and Peter Uihlein (68) at 17 under.
The all-Australian Ripper team, consisting of Cam Smith, Lucas Herbert, Marc Leishman, and Elvis Smylie — who won in Riyadh last week in his tour debut — claimed victory for the second consecutive week and also their second title in Adelaide.
Rahm’s Legion XIII team finished in second place, while Kim’s 4Aces secured a third-place finish.
