Anthony Kim's Shocking Comeback: Does It Matter in the Grand Scheme of Golf?
So, Anthony Kim. Back from the dead, right? Wins LIV Adelaide. First victory since, what, 2010? It’s been a minute. A long damn minute. We’re talking over a decade away from the game. Vanished. Poof. And then he’s back, taking down Rahm and DeChambeau. It’s the kind of story that makes you scratch your head and ask, where does this actually rank? Is this some kind of historic moment? Bigger than Tiger’s 2019 Masters win? Bigger than Rory’s major-chasing wins? Or is it just… a LIV win? Let’s talk about it.
The "Wow" Factor: Shocking or Just Impressive?
Look, let’s be blunt. Is Anthony Kim’s win bigger than Tiger winning the Masters after all his personal hell? No. Is it bigger than Rory finally bagging that Grand Slam? Absolutely not. Those are historical, game-changing moments. This? This is something else. It’s more about the sheer shock value. The “holy hell, he’s back and he *won*?” factor.
Think about it. The guy was gone. Completely off the radar. You’d hear whispers, sure, but nothing concrete. Then he reappears on the LIV scene, and suddenly he’s holding up a trophy, beating two of the biggest names in the game. That’s not just impressive; it’s borderline unbelievable.
Josh Berhow nailed it. It depends on the word you use. Historical? Nah, not yet. But impressive? Damn right. You don’t just step away from professional golf for over a decade and then waltz back in to beat guys like Rahm and DeChambeau in a final round. He had to chase them. He had to catch them. And then he had to hold them off. That takes guts. That takes skill. That counts for something, a lot actually.
Josh Sens put it perfectly: “As an individual achievement, it’s every bit as monumental as what Woods and McIlroy accomplished.” He was in the wilderness. No one saw this coming. When he was coming down the stretch, that win had the weight of a major, for him. And he delivered. That’s an epic feat, no question.
But James Colgan, bless his heart, is having none of it. “Let’s not be ridiculous here,” he says. And yeah, maybe he’s right. It’s not the most impressive victory since Augusta. It’s probably not even in the top 10. But to dismiss it entirely? That feels a bit much. The personal strife, the length of time between wins… it’s wild.
Why Should Newer Fans Even Care About AK?
This is a good question. A lot of golf fans these days, they started watching the game when Anthony Kim was… well, not playing. They might know the name, but they don’t know the story. Why does this victory matter to them? Why should they think it’s important?
Because this guy, AK, he was *the man* on the PGA Tour back in the day. Young, cocky, ridiculously talented, and fun to watch. He was the kind of player young fans latch onto. His mysterious absence? It just added to the legend. He wasn’t just a good player; he was a bit of an enigma.
Sens mentioned him being golf’s yeti – a near-mythic figure. That’s spot on. But beyond the myth, there’s the reality of what he overcame. This wasn’t just a player losing their game. This was someone walking away entirely. Staying away for *twice* as long as he played it for a living. The golf gods, they don’t usually let you do that. You don’t get to just quit and then pick it up a decade later like nothing happened. But that’s exactly what he did.
Colgan, who admits he was a casual fan at 12 when AK last won, gets it. He says it takes a golfer of unusual talent to fall that far and still come back. AK has that talent, even if his trophy case doesn’t scream it. That’s what makes his story so damn fascinating.
What’s Next for AK? A Flash in the Pan or the Real Deal?
So, the big question: Was this a one-off? A fluke? Or is Anthony Kim here to stay among the top dogs?
Berhow thinks it’s too early to say he’ll contend every single week. But the fact he even got through LIV Promotions to secure a spot in 2026? That tells you his game has been improving. It’s going to be a fun storyline to watch unfold this year, no doubt.
Sens, ever the pragmatist, points out that the only predictable thing in pro golf is Scottie Scheffler. Everything else? A crapshoot. But he agrees with Berhow. In the LIV era, the most interesting storylines have been about who’s joining or leaving. This is a rare, and welcome, on-course narrative.
Colgan, the optimist, just hopes for a few more wins. If you’re invested in golf’s growth, more than one earth-shattering victory from AK would be a damn good thing.
Collin Morikawa Finally Gets It Done at Pebble
Shifting gears a bit. Collin Morikawa. He finally birdied the 72nd hole to win the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. First win in 2.5 years. What did we make of his week? And is he your pick to bounce back in 2026?
Berhow noted it kind of came out of nowhere for Collin. Missed cuts, mediocre finishes… but his overall record from the previous year didn’t scream disaster. It’s always going to come down to the putter for him, and Pebble’s Poa annua greens are notoriously fickle. He’s a prime bounce-back candidate, for sure.
Sens saw Morikawa playing good golf last year but looking a bit edgy. He seemed like he was a hair off. At Pebble, he looked more like his old self for stretches, but there were still those iffy chipping moments. A relative weakness. He even chose to putt on 18 from a tricky spot. Sens wonders about his confidence around the greens. Still, a win is a win. And compared to Cantlay or Homa lately, Morikawa seems like the guy to reassert himself.
Colgan was genuinely impressed. Not just because he played great golf when it mattered, but because he did it despite a shaky putter. It’s not a long-term winning formula, playing lights out but putting like hell. But Scottie Scheffler has shown how far a little confidence on the greens can go. Morikawa’s win suggests he’s finding that confidence.
Pebble Beach Blues: Scheffler vs. Bhatia
Who’s more bummed leaving Pebble Beach? Scottie Scheffler, who again shot in the 70s on Thursday but played near-flawless golf after, only to come up short? Or Akshay Bhatia, who led by five after 45 holes and ended up tied for 6th?
Berhow’s got to go with Akshay. A good learning experience for the young player, though. He figures Scottie will be just fine.
Sens agrees. Bhatia, by a long shot. He can’t imagine Scheffler even giving it a second thought.
Colgan, though? He thinks Scottie was the happiest he looked all week after losing on Sunday. His game is red-hot; he just wasn’t scoring. Akshay, on the other hand, had lightning in a bottle and lost it. That’s a tough pill to swallow.
The Ultimate Back-to-Back: Pebble and Riviera
The Tour heads from one Signature Event at Pebble Beach to another at Riviera. Is this the best back-to-back combo on the schedule? Or is there a better one?
Berhow thinks Pebble to Riviera is the one. He gives it the edge over Augusta to Harbour Town. The Renaissance Club to Royal Birkdale for the Scottish Open and The Open is also a solid contender.
Sens likes Augusta to Harbour Town too, but Pebble to Riviera is the only stretch with two consecutive World Top 100 courses. That gives it the edge for him.
Colgan is all in. Pebble is the appetizer, Riv is the main course. He admits that back in the day, Memorial to the U.S. Open was a hell of a pairing too. Two straight brutal tests.
Ultimately, Anthony Kim’s win is a fascinating story of resilience and talent. While it might not rewrite golf history books in the same way as a Tiger or Rory triumph, it’s a powerful reminder of what’s possible when a gifted player overcomes immense personal challenges. It’s a win that resonates with the human element of the sport, proving that sometimes, the most compelling narratives aren’t about records, but about comebacks. For more on the latest in golf, check out Golf Channel for ongoing news and analysis.