LIV Golf Rumors: Is Anthony Kim Joining Jon Rahm’s Legion XIII?

Golf’s great mystery looks to be solved at last. Anthony Kim, after teasing his fans for years, is perhaps eying a return this time. But the question is, where? Multiple reports indicate the former PGA Tour Pro, who last stepped on the greens at the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship, will make his much-anticipated comeback, but on the other side.

Kim, who was knocked out of the game because of lingering injuries, is preparing hard and fast. The three-time PGA Tour winner has even grabbed the attention of Greg Norman. Interestingly, Jon Rahm, LIV’s marquee signing, is still without one teammate when he requires three. With Adrian Meronk presumably going to Cleeks GC and Tyrrell Hatton’s signing in limbo, is Kim going to be a part of the Spaniard’s squad?

Anthony Kim—the missing piece in the puzzle?

Multiple names have been associated with Rahm’s squad. His Ryder Cup teammate Tyrrell Hatton, who is close to the deal but hasn’t confirmed it, has been linked for some time. Aside from that, Caleb Surratt, a former World No.1 amateur, and Kieran Vincent, who qualified through LIV Golf Promotions, have been touted to be his teammate.

Reportedly, the PIF-funded league was not interested in the 38-year-old at first. But as per Golf.com’s Dylan Dethier, who first broke the report of Kim’s comeback, Dustin Johnson first touted the idea. However, his All-American squad of 4Aces GC is currently full with Pat Perez, Patrick Reed, and Harold Varner III. Whereas, Jon Rahm’s team, allegedly named as Legion XIII, is still looking for its next three members.

As his comeback rumors gained momentum, Greg Norman, the LIV Golf CEO, got in touch with the three-time PGA Tour winner. Apparently, the Saudi-backed league might offer him the insurance sum as his contract fee for one year. If the talk comes to fruition, the defending Masters Champion will have an experienced member on his roster.

Currently, with Jon Rahm’s big-money signing, the upstart league has expanded its team to 13 with 52 players in total. But the breakaway league is set to add two more players as wild card entries, which potentially opens up the door for Anthony Kim.

Weighing Kim’s chances of joining LIV Golf

For Kim, the road is forked. LIV Golf, although it offers a more lucrative sum, has a chance to land him in the crosshairs of his long-time fans. Furthermore, the fledgling league is battered with poor TV ratings, and scrambling for more established broadcasters to partner with them. The PGA Tour, although might not offer him jaw-dropping riches, can be a safe landing spot for the American International after 12 years of absence. It was the Stateside Tour, where Anthony Kim solidified his future legacy before abruptly quitting in 2012. 

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But LIV Golf also matches his personality. The cult hero Kim was notorious for his unabashed off-the-court presence, a quality the Greg Norman-fronted league has openly embraced. Nevertheless, it’s unlikely that Kim will tee up in Mayakoba within two weeks, which puts his tentative return to the later part of the season as a wildcard entry.

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