If you were an early riser on the East Coast Friday morning, you were in for a treat. After more than a decade away from professional golf, Anthony Kim made his highly-anticipated return at LIV Jeddah. This marked his first pro event since the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship. With more than 4,000 days between performances and a whole golf civil war, Kim arrived at Royal Greens Golf and C.C. with the same confidence and style that defined him before.
A Rocky Start
Kim’s journey back began rather unremarkably at his LIV home game. He hit a few fairways and rolled a few putts, showing signs of shaking off the rust accumulated over the years. However, the turning point came on the 5th hole, a challenging par-4 that elevated his return from interesting to eye-opening.
A Shocking Moment: The Shank Shot
Standing 128 yards away from his second shot in the first cut, Kim faced a tricky shot towards a pin tucked on the right side of the green. In discussing the shot with on-course reporter Dom Boulet, it became clear that a risky strategy was not advisable due to the challenging lie and rough. However, just as Boulet finished speaking, the sound of a shank echoed across LIV’s microphones, catching everyone off guard.
Kim’s disappointment was palpable as he watched his ball veer dramatically right of its intended destination. It was a moment that would quickly become viral, circulating through the corners of the golf internet during the pre-dawn hours. Despite the unexpected mishap, Kim managed to salvage a mostly harmless bogey from the greenside rough.
A Challenging Return
Unfortunately, things did not improve much for Kim after the shank. He recorded a seven-bogey, one-birdie 76 in his first round back, placing him at the bottom of the leaderboard, 14 strokes behind first-round leader Adrian Meronk. Nevertheless, there is a silver lining for Kim. Due to LIV’s no-cut format, he will have a chance to continue competing and redeem himself in the coming days. Additionally, the tournament’s guaranteed pay structure provides a handsome $50,000 for a last-place finish, making it a decent start to his comeback.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Was Anthony Kim successful in his return to professional golf at LIV Jeddah?
Anthony Kim’s comeback round did not go as planned. He struggled throughout the day and finished at the bottom of the leaderboard.
What was the standout moment of Kim’s first round back?
The most notable moment was a shank shot on the 5th hole, which quickly became viral on the internet.
Will Kim have the opportunity to improve his performance in the upcoming rounds?
Yes, thanks to the no-cut format at LIV Jeddah, Kim will have a chance to play in the subsequent rounds and potentially climb up the leaderboard.
What is the prize money offered for the last-place finish at LIV Jeddah?
The tournament guarantees a $50,000 payout for the golfer who finishes in last place, providing a positive outcome for Kim in his first week back.
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