Anthony Kim's Comeback: The Inside Story of a Golfer Who Never Lost Belief
You see it sometimes. A guy disappears. Just… gone. Vanishes from the golf scene. And you think, “That’s it. He’s done.” Most of the time, you’re right. But then there’s Anthony Kim. The guy comes back after over a decade, and not just comes back, but wins. Like it was nothing. Like he just took a damn coffee break. And the people who know him best? They weren’t even surprised. They knew. They always knew.
Just a few weeks before he teed it up in Australia, Kim was chilling. Talking to his old coach, Adam Schriber. Kim drops this bomb: “It’s going to happen,” he tells Schriber. “My best golf is in front of me. You watch, it’s good. It’s just taking some time to get my confidence back.” Confidence. That’s the damn key, isn’t it? For all of us. But for a golfer? Especially at that level? It’s everything.
And then, bam. LIV Golf Adelaide. Kim, who nobody really saw coming, puts on a clinic. A nine-under 63 in the final round. He’s not just playing, he’s dominating. He beats Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. Guys who are basically golf royalty. And Kim? He’s just… back. Like he never left. It’s a redemption story. A comeback for the ages. And the kicker? The people who really matter, the ones who were in his corner, they saw it coming all along.
The Unshakeable Self-Belief
What’s the secret sauce? It’s that inner voice, right? The one that tells you you’re good enough. That you can do it. Kim’s got that voice cranked up to eleven. He said it himself after the win: “I know I can make a lot of birdies. I know my self-belief is second to none.” That’s not arrogance. That’s just… fact. For him, anyway. He’s not scared of anyone. Never was. He played majors when he was a kid, and he’s still not scared to go toe-to-toe with the best now. Twelve and a half years away? That’s a lifetime in golf. You’d think that’d break anyone. But not Kim. He just rebuilt it. Brick by damn brick.
Schriber, the golf instructor who’s been in Kim’s corner since he was a 14-year-old whiz-kid, he’s seen it all. He’s still in touch, even though Kim’s got a new coach now. They’re like family. Schriber talks about Kim like he’s a damn phenomenon. And maybe he is. “He is just a phenomenal athlete that defaulted to golf because it fit him,” Schriber says. “We are lucky to have him in the sport.” He’s got the tools, yeah. But what sets him apart? “Most of all he gave himself the permission to fail.” That’s huge. Most guys are terrified of failing. Kim? He embraced it. Used it. That’s a different breed of cat right there.
The Long Road Back
Let’s not forget the journey. Kim wasn’t exactly setting the world on fire when he first returned to pro golf in 2024. It wasn’t the instant explosion of success he’d had years before. He’s 40 now. Playing as a LIV wild card. He got bumped after the 2025 season, which is a kick in the teeth. But he battled back, snagging a spot in the LIV Promotions event. Finished third. That’s what handed out those precious 2026 season memberships. And then, Patrick Reed bails before the season opener. Who steps in? Anthony Kim. It’s like the universe was just lining things up.
His team debut at Adelaide. Nobody saw him as the main threat. All eyes were on Rahm and DeChambeau. The big boys. Kim? He was five shots back. 14 under. In the final group, sure, but more like an observer. Or so everyone thought. But Kim wasn’t just observing. He was playing. He didn’t drop a single shot on the front nine. Four under by the turn. Just one back of Rahm. Meanwhile, DeChambeau’s making bogeys. The script was getting flipped.
The Adelaide Masterclass
Then came the back nine. Kim birdied 12 to tie Rahm. And then he just went nuclear. Three more birdies in a row. Four straight. He took the lead. A commanding one. He birdied 17. And that 18th hole? Stress-free. He cruised to a three-stroke victory. Against Rahm and DeChambeau. It’s insane. Absolutely insane.
He talked about it too. “Bryson and Jon have proven themselves as major championship-caliber winners, Ryder Cup players, and have consistently played well for a long time, so I have a tremendous amount of respect for them,” Kim said. “I knew it was going to be an uphill battle today, and I got putts to go my way.” Yeah, the putts went his way. But that’s because he was in position to make them. He earned those chances. He put himself there.
Think about it. His last start before this comeback was at the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship. He was 26. His last win before that? The 2010 Shell Houston Open. That’s a massive gap. A damn chasm. And Schriber always believed. He knew Kim could win again. It just came down to how badly Kim wanted it. How much he was willing to commit. To get sharp. To get that killer instinct back.
More Than Just Golf: The Friendship Factor
This isn’t just about birdies and trophies. It’s about something deeper. Schriber is part of this tight-knit circle around Kim. And they all felt something special watching him win. Their bond? It goes way beyond the fairways and greens. Schriber tells this story. Over 20 years ago. He’s going through a divorce. Rough times. And guess who’s calling him every single day? Anthony Kim. A 15-year-old kid. Checking in. Constantly.
“My buddies would forget what I was going through, but this 15-year-old kid was checking up on my all the time. That’s special, man,” Schriber says. “We’ve always been there for each other when that guy’s down. And that’s how you know who your true friends are. Everybody’s there when things are going good, but only the people who are real are there for you when s— hits the fan. We have that in common.”
That’s the kind of foundation that builds champions. Not just on the golf course, but in life. When you have people in your corner who have your back, no matter what, it gives you a different kind of strength. A resilience. Kim had that. He had the talent, sure. But he also had the unwavering support. The belief from others that mirrored his own. It’s a powerful combination. And it’s why, for those who truly know him, his comeback wasn’t a shock. It was an inevitability. He always believed. And now, the world gets to see it too.
This is the kind of grit and determination that inspires everyone. It shows that no matter how long you’re away, if you have the belief and the support system, you can achieve incredible things. It’s a testament to the human spirit, and a reminder to never give up on your dreams. If you’re looking to improve your own golf game, remember that mental fortitude is just as important as physical skill. Consider exploring resources on sports psychology in golf to bolster your own self-belief. You can find valuable insights on the importance of a strong mental game at places like Psychology Today’s golf section.