what happened to anthony kim?

Anthony Kim, once one of golf’s brightest young stars, largely disappeared from professional golf for more than a decade due to a mix of injuries, addiction, and personal struggles, but he has recently staged a remarkable comeback on LIV Golf and even won a tournament in 2026.

What happened to him?

• Kim burst onto the PGA Tour in the late 2000s, winning five times before age 28 , including two World Golf‑Championship‑style events, and was a key part of the 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team.

• Around 2012, chronic foot and ankle injuries derailed his career, and he gradually faded from competition, with long stretches where he was barely seen on tour.

• In the years that followed, reports and interviews described him battling drug and alcohol addiction , which kept him away from competitive golf and made his whereabouts a frequent topic of golf‑world speculation.

Disappearance and “ghost” years

• From roughly 2012 through 2023 , Kim was mostly absent from pro golf; fans and media often referred to him as “golf’s ghost,” with only occasional sightings at events or in social‑media‑adjacent stories.

• During that time, he worked on recovery and sobriety , later saying he has been sober for about three years as of February 2026 , and has spoken openly about how addiction nearly cost him his life and career.

Comeback on LIV Golf

• Kim returned to professional competition in 2024 , joining LIV Golf after a 12‑year hiatus, but his first two seasons were shaky, with only one top‑25 finish and relegation‑zone finishes that forced him into LIV’s “Promotions” qualifying event.

• In January 2026 , he finished third at the LIV Promotions event , earning a full‑time spot back on LIV for the 2026 season and showing much better discipline and focus on the course.

2026 win and where he is now

• On February 14, 2026 , Kim won LIV Golf Adelaide , his first victory in nearly 16 years , closing with a 9‑under 63 to win by three shots and take home $4 million.

• The win capped what many are calling one of the most improbable comebacks in modern golf , and he has since been celebrated as a symbol of recovery and resilience in the sport.

Quick timeline table

Period| What happened to Anthony Kim
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2007–2012| PGA Tour star: 5 wins, Ryder Cup, top‑10 world‑ranking contention. 28
2012–2023| Retired‑style absence; injuries, addiction, and recovery; rarely seen on tour. 46
2024–2025| Returns to LIV Golf but struggles; finishes in relegation‑zone both seasons. 57
Jan 2026| Earns full‑time LIV status again via Promotions event. 15
Feb 14, 2026| Wins LIV Golf Adelaide, first victory since 2010. 379

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.