LIV Golf Adelaide: Anthony Kim Makes Stunning Comeback, Gets 1st Win in 16 Years

Anthony Kim completed one of the most inspirational — and improbable — comebacks that professional golf has ever seen, outdueling Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau to win the individual title at LIV Golf Adelaide on Sunday. 

After 12.5 years away from competitive play due to injuries and personal challenges, Kim returned in 2024 to join LIV Golf. He struggled early while trying to shed the rust and recapture the magic during his early years as a pro. 

Thanks to his mantra of "one percent better every day" determination, he’s shown dramatic improvement the last few months – and this week at The Grange, he completed the journey, proving that anything is possible. Not only did Kim capture his first win of any kind in nearly 16 years, he did so while in the final group against two of the best players in the world who simply could not keep up with his iron play and hot putter.

"I'm very overwhelmed with this feeling right now," said Kim, who began the week working out visa issues to get into Australia, then officially signed with 4Aces GC just before the tournament started. "But my plan is to keep getting better and start winning some more trophies."

While Kim’s story is compelling, the hometown win by Ripper GC for the team title was equally as celebrated by the Adelaide fans, as Captain Cameron Smith and club rallied past Rahm’s Legion XIII team for a two-shot win, their second at home in three years. Marc Leishman led the way for Ripper, shooting a 7-under 65. Lucas Herbert and Elvis Smylie shot matching 3-under 69s while Smith shot a 2-under 70.

"Unreal. So good," said Smith, whose team also won last week’s season opener in Riyadh, becoming the first LIV Golf team to claim the first two tournaments of a season. "We had a