The Road Less Traveled By: Why LIV Golf Might Be a Better Stop for Anthony Kim After a 12-Year-Hiatus?

Golf fans are likely to witness another comeback story. This one, though, looks to triumph over all the others, for Anthony Kim is eyeing a return to the Greens this year. Finally, after teasing fans for years and even admitting that “Golf is a fond memory,” the three-time PGA Tour winner is looking to be back at his professional golf avatar this spring. Furthermore, reports also point out that the 38-year-old is in talks with LIV Golf chief Greg Norman.

The PIF-funded side, although not interested at first, allegedly knocked on his door after Dustin Johnson spoke glowingly about the American Pro. Kim, however, has not committed to his future. And, being the recluse that he is, Kim hasn’t addressed the rumors. Regardless, looking at the current scenario, it looks like LIV Golf will be a more sound option for the 38-year-old.

A tough challenge awaits Anthony Kim on the PGA Tour

Kim at this point is not eligible to play at the Signature events, the PGA Tour’s limited-field no-cut $20 million purse events. So, if the three-time PGA Tour winner decides to return to the PGA Tour, the 38-year-old has to cut through the clutter of around 156 players in the full-field tournaments. Ask any PGA Tour pro, and they will tell you that making cuts regularly on the Tour is a tough grind in itself.

Let’s also not forget Kim will be stepping onto the pro golf scene after 12 years and multiple surgeries later. Will Zalatoris, 27, after going through back surgery, came back to the circuit after eight months at the Sony Open Hawaii, where he shot a 5-over-par 145 to miss the cut. His next event at the recently concluded American Express yielded a T34 finish.

Daniel Berger, 30, returned to the greens after a back injury ruled him out for 19 months. Again playing at the full-field event, Berger managed a T39 finish at the American Express and failed to make the cut at the Farmers Insurance Open. Without any exaggeration, for Kim, who is 38 and has been out of touch with golf for a decade, the road will be a little more difficult.

Kim will be looking at guaranteed play in LIV Golf

The PGA Tour requires a minimum of 15 events to keep your card. However, most pros commit to more events in a calendar year. LIV Golf, on the other hand, has a 14-event schedule with no cuts in any event. That effectively means Kim will have a guaranteed three-day outing unless injury plays spoilsport.

Moreover, missing a few cuts on the PGA Tour will significantly push you down the ladder. Crashing out of the top 125 at the end of the season means the hard-earned Tour Card will hang by a thread. Shane Lowry, a two-time winner on the Stateside, lost his Tour card back in 2018 despite teeing up in 19 events, including three majors. Comparably, LIV Golf is rather lenient on that front.

As of last year, only players outside the top 45 were relegated to the ‘drop zone.’ It’s not clear whether, in the wake of adding Jon Rahm and his new team members, the PIF-funded side will change its season-ending ‘cut’. Nevertheless, for drop zone players, LIV Golf Promotion offers the opportunity to earn their spot back.

Let’s also not forget the dough

Interestingly, Anthony Kim might lose his insurance, which stands at $10 million, if he turns to golf once again. ESPN reported that American International might have to pay a portion back, if not the entire amount.

A deal with the Saudi sovereign fund, which recently offered around half a billion to Jon Rahm, will pay generously for the 38-year-old. Insider sources reveal that, as part of the deal with PIF, Anthony Kim stands a chance to gain a $10 million upfront contract fee. Furthermore, unlike the PGA Tour, turning up in the breakaway league means guaranteed money regardless of how far down the leaderboard Kim ends up.

Consider this: Andy Ogletree, who played only a handful of events last season, has earned $788,333. Chase Koepka, who was relegated after finishing in 48th place in the season-long individual leaderboard, raked in $1,880,714.

The PGA Tour, despite increasing purses, doesn’t guarantee hefty paychecks for the players in the bottom rung. Although the Tour has other options for rewarding its players, namely the PIP bonus, it is still a long shot for Kim, despite his cult hero status among fans. So, financially, Anthony Kim’s future is rather secure on the PIF-backed side.

Merger talks offer a unique opportunity for Anthony Kim

Let’s also not forget Kim’s moment of comeback at a time when the friction between the belligerent LIV Golf and PGA Tour is slowly decreasing. Most recently, Jay Monahan traveled to Saudi Arabia for a face-to-face talk with PIF chief Yasir Al-Rumayyan. The involvement of Strategic Sports Group, a consortium of big-money investors, has also eased matters further for both sides.

All signs indicate that a deal is likely to reach a breakthrough before the Masters. Dylan Dethier at Golf.com claimed that Kim is eyeing a return during the spring. So, the veteran golfer might come at a time when both sides agree to work together to have joint events. That will mean a way back for the veteran golfer to tee up on the circuit that launched his career.

Read More: Has LIV Golf Exposed the Long-Overlooked Cracks in the PGA Tour’s Business Model?

So, Anthony Kim stands to lose zero-to-nothing by joining the PIF-funded side. Sure, it will ruffle a few feathers, but again, as both sides come closer to aligning their financial and vested interests, the criticisms also look to get subdued further.

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