why did anthony kim quit golf
Anthony Kim didn’t “quit golf” for one simple reason; his disappearance was the result of a mix of serious injuries, a reported insurance policy, and deep personal/mental health struggles that pulled him completely out of the sport for over a decade.
Quick Scoop
- He was a superstar in the late 2000s, winning three PGA Tour events and playing on Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams.
- In 2012, he tore his Achilles, had surgery, and never played on the PGA Tour again.
- Multiple injuries (Achilles, shoulder, hand, spine) and surgeries left his body in rough shape.
- He has said he battled addiction and “very dark demons” during his 12 years away.
- A rumored large insurance policy for a “career‑ending” injury made walking away financially possible, though he won’t discuss details publicly.
- In 2024 he slowly returned to pro golf with LIV Golf, saying he’s only now starting to actually enjoy the game.
What Actually Happened To Anthony Kim?
Back in 2008–2010, Anthony Kim was one of golf’s most electric young stars, with three PGA Tour wins and a world ranking as high as sixth. He was hyped as a future rival to Tiger Woods, charismatic, aggressive, and wildly talented.
Then, in May 2012, he withdrew after the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship and soon had surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon in his left leg. He never teed it up on the PGA Tour again after that operation.
The Big Reasons He Stepped Away
1. Brutal Injury History
Kim wasn’t dealing with just one injury; it was a pile‑up over years.
- Torn ligament in his left thumb that required surgery in 2010.
- Chronic pain in his left forearm that affected his ability to compete.
- Achilles tendon surgery in 2012 that ended his PGA Tour run.
- Later, shoulder and hand surgeries plus spinal fusion treatment.
He has said his body “isn’t what it used to be” and that these injuries and surgeries were a major part of why he disappeared.
2. Mental Health, Addiction, and “Dark Demons”
In recent interviews, Kim has opened up about what was happening off the course.
- He has talked about battling addiction and feeling “very alone” during his absence.
- He described fighting “very dark demons” and going through some traumatic experiences in those years away.
- At one point, he has implied he wasn’t sure how much longer he wanted to live, underlining how severe things became for him.
So it wasn’t just that he couldn’t swing; his life off the course was unraveling too.
3. The Rumored Insurance Policy
A big part of the online and forum fascination has been his alleged insurance deal.
- Reports say he took out a lucrative insurance policy that would pay out if he suffered a career‑ending injury.
- With the Achilles and other injuries, that policy may have kicked in and made him financially secure enough to stay away from pro golf.
- Kim himself has said he’s “not at liberty” to discuss the settlement and that public opinion that he “took the money and ran” isn’t accurate.
So the short version: injuries and life problems forced him out, and the insurance meant he didn’t have to rush back.
His Relationship With Golf (And Why It Soured)
Kim has given surprisingly honest comments about how he felt about the game.
- He has said he doesn’t think he ever truly loved golf when he was young; it was tied to family sacrifice and intense pressure.
- That pressure made him “aggressive on the course and aggressive off the course,” which he says “led to [his] demise.”
- Golf, for him, became tightly linked to stress, expectations, and risky behavior rather than joy.
This combination—physical pain, emotional weight, and self‑destructive habits—made walking away feel like the only option.
Forum & Trending Talk: The Theories
Online discussions have spun a few recurring narratives about why Anthony Kim quit golf.
Common takes you’ll see:
- “He cashed the insurance check and dipped.”
- There is evidence of a big policy, but he insists his disappearance was driven more by injuries and personal struggles, not just money.
- “He couldn’t handle the pressure of being ‘the next Tiger.’”
- The pressure factor is real—he’s said family sacrifice and expectations weighed heavily on him.
- “He partied too hard and it caught up with him.”
- He has openly talked about being very aggressive and reckless off the course and later battling addiction.
In reality, his own comments now paint a multi‑layered picture: injuries, addiction, mental health, bad influences, and pressure all pulled him away.
The Comeback: Latest News
After more than a decade off the radar, Kim began working his way back to the game.
- Around early 2024, he said he only started seriously hitting balls again a few months before getting a call from LIV Golf’s Greg Norman.
- He chose to return not on the PGA Tour but with LIV Golf, making his first LIV start in the U.S. at Trump National Doral near Miami.
- He credits his wife for pulling him back toward golf—she wanted to learn, and helping her practice slowly rekindled his own interest.
- Now, he says he’s finally “falling in love with the game,” which feels strange to him after so many years of pressure and pain.
So the story has flipped from “golf’s Bigfoot who vanished” to “ghost returns,” with fans watching to see if he can write a new chapter.
Mini FAQ: “Why Did Anthony Kim Quit Golf?” (In One Glance)
| Factor | Role in Him Leaving |
|---|---|
| Severe injuries | Thumb, forearm, Achilles, shoulder, hand, and spine issues made competing at the highest level nearly impossible. | [3][5][1]
| Surgeries | Multiple operations, including Achilles repair and spinal fusion, kept him out for years and changed his body permanently. | [5][1]
| Addiction & mental health | He has spoken about addiction, loneliness, and “very dark demons” during his time away. | [6][9][5]
| Insurance policy | A reported lucrative career‑ending injury policy likely made a long break (or de facto retirement) financially feasible. | [3]
| Pressure & lifestyle | Heavy expectations and an aggressive, risky lifestyle “on and off the course” contributed to his downfall. | [8][1][5]
| Later comeback | Returned via LIV Golf after 12 years, encouraged by his wife and a new, healthier relationship with the game. | [7][1][5]
TL;DR
Anthony Kim quit golf because his body broke down, his personal life and mental health spiraled, and a big insurance policy meant he didn’t need to rush back into a world that had become toxic for him. Now he’s trying to rebuild his life and career on his own terms, with a completely different attitude toward the game.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.