Anthony Kim Explained

Anthony Kim
Fullname:Anthony Ha-Jin Kim
Nickname:A.K.[1]
Birth Date:19 June 1985
Birth Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Weight:160lb
Residence:Dallas, Texas, U.S.
College:University of Oklahoma
Yearpro:2006
Tour:LIV Golf
Extour:PGA Tour
European Tour
Prowins:4
Pgawins:3
Otherwins:1
Masters:3rd: 2010
Usopen:T16: 2009
Open:T5: 2011
Pga:T50: 2007
Hangul:김하진
Rr:Gim Ha-Jin
Mr:Kim Ha-Chin

Anthony Ha-Jin Kim (born June 19, 1985) is an American professional golfer with three PGA Tour wins, who played in one Ryder Cup competition, and one Presidents Cup competition. He has not played in a PGA Tour event since an injury in 2012. He is believed to have had an insurance policy that would pay him $10-20 million in the case of a career-ending injury.[2] In 2024, he returned to professional golf, playing in the LIV Golf League.

Amateur career

A Korean American, Kim was born in Los Angeles, California, and resides in Dallas, Texas. He attended La Quinta High School in La Quinta, California. After high school, he attended the University of Oklahoma for three years; this is where he met his caddie, Brodie Flanders. During his time at Oklahoma, he set the school record for lowest career scoring average in relation to par.[3] He was part of the winning USA team in the 2005 Walker Cup.

Professional career

2006–2010

Kim turned professional in 2006 and after receiving a sponsor's exemption he finished in a tie for second on his PGA Tour debut at the 2006 Valero Texas Open. He earned his PGA Tour card through the qualifying school for the 2007 season. He made a strong start and broke into the top 100 in the Official World Golf Rankings in May 2007 with four top 10 finishes during his rookie season on the PGA Tour. In the 2007 U.S. Open, he shot a final round 67 earning him a tie for 20th place (he started the day at T57). His 67 was the lowest for the round and second lowest for the tournament.

In May 2008, Kim won his first PGA Tour tournament at the Wachovia Championship, defeating former British Open champion Ben Curtis by five shots. Kim's 16-under par 272 total was the lowest score in the tournament's history until 2015. He shot an opening day 70, but rallied for subsequent rounds of 67-66-69 and was several shots clear of Curtis most of the final round. He earned $1,152,000 for his victory, and reached a new career high of 16th in the world rankings.[4]

In July 2008, Kim won his second PGA Tour tournament at the AT&T National, defeating Freddie Jacobson by two shots. Kim shot a 5 under 65 in the fourth round to capture the title. The victory was especially meaningful because the tournament is hosted by Tiger Woods. Furthermore, Kim became the first American under 25 to win twice in one year on the PGA Tour since Tiger Woods in 2000. This win moved him to 14th in the World Rankings.[5] A pair of T-3 finishes in the final two 2008 FedEx Cup events pushed him to 6th in the World Rankings. He has spent over 20 weeks in the top-10 since 2008.[6]

In September 2008, Kim was a critical part of the United States' victory in the Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club, defeating Ryder Cup veteran Sergio García 5 & 4 in the first match of the Sunday single matches. Later that year he joined the European Tour for the 2009 season, making his debut as a member at the 2008 HSBC Champions, the first tournament of the 2009 season.

At the 2009 Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia at Augusta National Golf Club, Kim set the record for most birdies in a round with eleven in the second round, surpassing Nick Price, who had ten birdies in 1986.

At the 2009 Presidents Cup, Kim posted an impressive 3–1 record, which included a 5 and 3 victory over Robert Allenby in the Sunday singles match.

Kim lost to Ross Fisher in the finals of the Volvo World Match Play in October 2009 4 & 3 after once again beating Robert Allenby in the semi-finals.

On April 4, 2010, Kim won the Shell Houston Open, beating Vaughn Taylor in a playoff. He became only the fifth player in 30 years to have won three times on the PGA Tour before the age of 25, the others being Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Sergio García and Adam Scott.[7] An injury hampered most of the rest of the 2010 season for Kim, and he failed to qualify for the 2010 Ryder Cup.

2011–2019

In June 2012, Kim had surgery after injuring the Achilles tendon in his left leg and was expected to miss 9 to 12 months.[8] Kim was eligible for the 2013 season on a Major Medical Exemption, but has failed to play a single tournament since.[2] [9]

In April 2014, Golf Channel reported that Kim no longer plays golf, even on a recreational level.[10] In 2016, Kim played in a number of charity events, but said he was not ready to play professionally again. He also cited ongoing physical therapy and numerous surgeries as the reasons for delaying his return.[11]

In April 2019, during an encounter with a fan in West Hollywood, California, Kim referred to his golf game as "non-existent".[12] On January 1, 2021, Adam Schriber, Kim's longtime coach, posted a photo of the two in front of the Dallas skyline with the caption "2021 is going to be special".[13]

2024: Return to professional golf

In February 2024, it was confirmed that Kim would be returning to professional golf; joining the 2024 LIV Golf League at the Jeddah event in Saudi Arabia. He is playing as an individual for his first season.[14]

Amateur wins

Note: this list may be incomplete.

Professional wins (4)

PGA Tour wins (3)

No.DateTournamentWinning scoreTo parMargin of
victory
Runner-up
1Wachovia Championship70-67-66-69=272−165 strokes Ben Curtis
2Jul 6, 2008AT&T National67-67-69-65=268−122 strokes Freddie Jacobson
3Apr 4, 2010Shell Houston Open68-69-69-70=276−12Playoff Vaughn Taylor

PGA Tour playoff record (1–0)

Other wins (1)

Other playoff record (1–2)

No.YearTournamentOpponentResult
12008Kiwi Challenge Hunter MahanLost to par on second extra hole
22009Kiwi Challenge Sean O'HairWon with bogey on first extra hole
32011Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters Rory McIlroyLost to par on first extra hole

Results in major championships

Tournament 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Masters TournamentT203CUT
U.S. OpenT20T26T16T54
The Open ChampionshipT7CUTT5
PGA ChampionshipT50T55T51CUTCUT
CUT = missed the half-way cut
T = tie

Summary

Tournament Wins 2nd 3rd Top-5 Top-10 Top-25 Events Cuts made
0 0 1 1 1 2 3 2
0 0 0 0 0 2 4 4
0 0 0 1 2 2 3 2
PGA Championship 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 3
Totals 0 0 1 2 3 6 15 11

Results in The Players Championship

CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place

Results in World Golf Championships

Tournament2008200920102011
Match PlayR32R64R64
Championship58T2260
InvitationalT36T36T76
ChampionsT10T25
QF, R16, R32, R64 = Round in which player lost in match play
"T" = Tied
Note that the HSBC Champions did not become a WGC event until 2009.

PGA Tour career summary

Year Starts Cuts made Wins 2nd 3rd Top 10 Top 25 Earnings ($) Money list rank
2006 2 2 0 1 0 1 2 338,067 (non-member)
2007 26 20 0 0 1 4 10 1,545,195 60
2008 22 19 2 1 3 8 10 4,656,265 6
2009 22 17 0 1 2 3 8 1,972,155 39
2010 14 10 1 1 1 4 6 2,574,921 24
2011 26 14 0 0 0 2 7 1,085,846 87
2012 10 2 0 0 0 0 0 33,960 232
Career 122 84 3 4 7 22 43 12,206,409 133

U.S. national team appearances

Amateur

2005 (winners)

Professional

2008 (winners)

2009 (winners)

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The caddies lucky enough to call Anthony Kim boss were in for a rude awakening . Golf.com . Cameron . Morfit . May 7, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140304090156/http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/caddies-lucky-enough-call-anthony-kim-boss-were-rude-awakening . March 4, 2014.
  2. Web site: Shipnuck . Alan . September 20, 2014 . Anthony Kim, MIA Since 2012, Wrestles With Whether To Tee It Up Again or Reap an Eight-Figure Disability Settlement . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170317002735/http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/anthony-kim-ryder-cup-breakout-star-2008-nowhere-be-found?page=1 . March 17, 2017 . September 11, 2021 . Golf.com.
  3. Web site: Abraham Ancer – 2012–13 – Men's Golf . 2023-06-17 . University of Oklahoma Athletics.
  4. Web site: Week 18 – Twenty Two Year Old Anthony Kim Wins the Wachovia Championship and Moves to World Number 16 . Official World Golf Ranking . 5 May 2008.
  5. Web site: Week 27 – 23 Year-old Anthony Kim Wins the AT&T National and Climbs to World Number 14 . Official World Golf Ranking . 7 July 2008.
  6. Book: European Tour Official Guide 09 . PDF. January 16, 2009 . 38th . 2009 . PGA European Tour . Players who have reached the Top Ten in the Official World Golf Ranking since 1986 . 558 .
  7. News: Anthony Kim wins Shell Houston Open in play-off with Vaughn Taylor . April 5, 2010 . The Guardian . April 8, 2010.
  8. Web site: Kim has surgery, out 9-12 months . PGA Tour . July 18, 2012 . July 23, 2012.
  9. News: Is insurance policy paying Anthony Kim $20M to stay off PGA Tour? . CBS Sports . Kyle . Porter . September 17, 2014.
  10. News: Hawk's Nest: Anthony Kim, where have you gone? . Golf Channel . John . Hawkins . April 28, 2014 . September 18, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140918231702/http://www.golfchannel.com/news/john-hawkins/hawks-nest-remember-anthony-kim/ . September 18, 2014 . dead .
  11. Web site: Anthony Kim spotted at another charity event . Golf Channel . September 17, 2016 . September 17, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160919101236/http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golf-central-blog/anthony-kim-spotted-another-charity-event . September 19, 2016 . dead.
  12. Web site: Anthony Kim surfaces in West Hollywood, says golf game is 'non-existent' . Golf.com . Dylan . Dethier . April 24, 2019.
  13. Web site: Dylan . Dethier . January 2, 2021 . Latest Anthony Kim sighting raises more questions than answers . live . 2021-09-11 . Golf.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20210102180958/https://golf.com/news/anthony-kim-sighting-2021-wish-list/ . January 2, 2021 .
  14. Anthony Kim's Longtime Exile Coming to an End With LIV Golf Deal . Sports Illustrated . Bob . Harig . 25 February 2024 . 26 February 2024.