Anthony Kim stopped playing professional golf for nearly 12 years mainly because of severe injuries, long and complicated recovery, and serious off- course struggles with addiction and “dark demons,” and he has only recently returned to competition.

Why did Anthony Kim stop playing golf?

1. The core reason: injuries and surgery

  • In 2012, Kim withdrew from the Wells Fargo Championship and soon after had surgery to repair a torn Achilles tendon in his left leg; he never played another PGA Tour event after that.
  • Over the years away he had multiple surgeries, including shoulder and hand procedures and even spinal fusion, which left his body far from its former peak.
  • He has said that once he realized after surgery that he might never be able to play again at the same level, he was at peace with the idea of not returning.

“I had multiple, multiple surgeries and my body still isn’t what it used to be.”

2. Addiction, “demons,” and off‑course chaos

  • Kim has openly described battling addiction and what he calls “very dark demons” during his time away, referencing drinking, drugs, gambling, and serious emotional struggles.
  • He says he felt “very alone” in those years, dealing with injuries, addiction, and people he characterizes as “snakes” or “scam artists” around him.
  • He has suggested that the combination of physical pain, pressure from his upbringing, and his own aggressive personality on and off the course “led to [his] demise.”

“I’ve had some very low points in my life. I’ve experienced some pretty traumatic things.”

3. Complicated insurance and money rumors

  • For years, fans speculated that Kim walked away mainly because of a large disability-insurance payout that would be jeopardized if he played again.
  • Kim has acknowledged there was a financial settlement but says public opinion that he “took the money and ran” is not accurate and that the real story is layered and tied to injuries and surgeries.
  • He has said he is “not at liberty” to discuss details of the settlement, hinting that legal and financial constraints were part of the picture but not the simple main reason.

4. His relationship with golf: pressure, not love

  • Kim has admitted he didn’t truly love golf during his rise; instead, he associated it with pressure, family sacrifice, and the need to justify everything his family went through.
  • He describes his younger self as aggressive on the course and equally reckless off it, which he believes contributed to his downfall.
  • In recent interviews, he says only now—after years away and working on his life—is he “falling in love with the game” for the first time.

5. The comeback twist: where he is now

  • After almost 12 years away, Kim returned to professional golf in 2024 as a wildcard in the LIV Golf League, starting in Jeddah and later playing events in the U.S. and elsewhere.
  • He has struggled to recapture his peak form but is committed to rebuilding his career, also playing events on the Asian Tour and The International Series and trying to secure full-time status.
  • Kim says this new phase is about proving to himself he can still compete, while balancing family life and using his story to inspire others who feel stuck in dark places.

6. Forum and trending discussion angle

Online forums and golf communities frame the answer to “why did Anthony Kim stop playing golf?” as a mix of:

  • Brutal physical breakdown: Achilles tear, multiple surgeries, and long-term back issues.
  • Self-destructive lifestyle: heavy partying, addiction, gambling, and a chaotic personal life that magnified the impact of his injuries.
  • Insurance mystery: a debated but never fully confirmed disability policy that may have discouraged a quick return.
  • Emotional burnout: a child-prodigy career built more on obligation and pressure than genuine joy, leading him to walk away when his body gave out.

He has hinted that a fuller tell‑all documentary may eventually unpack more details, which is why some explanations remain vague and continue to fuel forum speculation and “trending topic” discussions.

Quick recap (TL;DR)

Anthony Kim stopped playing golf because a devastating Achilles injury and a series of other surgeries effectively ended his PGA Tour career, while at the same time he was battling addiction, deep personal “demons,” and burnout from a life and career that felt more like pressure than passion; legal and insurance entanglements layered onto all of that and helped keep him away until his comeback with LIV Golf over a decade later.

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