Anthony Kim has superbly regained full LIV Golf League status and no sooner delivered a frank four-letter word request of golf fans.
Despite a closing bogey, Kim’s 69 for a 36-hole five-under tally was good enough to secure the third and last place into the 2026 LIV ranks.
Canadian Richard T Lee was unchallenged over all four days of the qualifier, winning by five shots at 11-under from Thai-based Swede Swede Bjorn Hellburg, who posted a best of the last day 64 to be second on six-under on the Black Diamond Ranch host course in Florida.
Kim, 41, had been playing the past two LIV Golf seasons as a ‘wildcard’ but an indifferent 2025 season saw him relegated in November.
“It feels great and I’m not here to prove everybody wrong, as I’m here to prove my golf, right”, said Kim proudly holding his daughter Bella, and with just a proud wife, Emily looking on.
KIM DELIVERS FRANK ‘FOUR LETTER’ WORD REQUEST OF FANS ….
After earning @livgolf_league reinstatement
“I earned my spot so everybody can quit talking s*** about me, and I will be back soon and back winning golf tournaments”
Read: https://t.co/ECYGwXnuyo
✅ @TOURMISS… https://t.co/tdDdjlEZx3
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) January 11, 2026
“I’ve worked so hard, and this little girl here, is one of the reasons why, so to my wife with her support. I have had so much support behind me.
“All year, the last two years since I’ve been back. I’m just so grateful that I am back on the stage.
“This result is going to give me a lot of confidence heading into the new season. I didn’t have it today. I didn’t feel great with my swing. I putted okay but didn’t make a ton. So, I feel as though my game is trending in the right direction, so that with my bad rounds I can still hang in there and be around par.
“This is just the first step but I am glad I earned my spot so everybody can quit talking shit about me, and I will be back soon and back winning golf tournaments”.
Anthony Kim proudly regains full LIV Golf membership. Image LIV GOLF
Kim won three PGA Tour titles between 2006 and 2008, and his last major championship in missing the cut at the 2010 PGA Championship.
In June 2012, Kim had surgery after injuring the Achilles tendon in his left leg and was expected to miss 9 to 12 months. Kim was eligible for the 2013 season on a Major Medical Exemption, but has failed to play a single tournament since.
In April 2014, Golf Channel reported that Kim no longer plays golf, even on a recreational level. In 2016, Kim played in a number of charity events, but said he was not ready to play professionally again. He also cited ongoing physical therapy and numerous surgeries as the reasons for delaying his return.
Kim is believed to have had an insurance policy that would pay him $10-20 million in the case of a career-ending injury.
Then there the surprise in 2024, with Kim returned to professional golf, playing in the LIV Golf League.
The American’s presence in the LIV GOLF ranks has been a heart-warming redemption for the three-time PGA Tour winner, who was ranked sixth in the world in his early 20s, and who was also part of the victorious 2008 USA team that wrestled the Ryder Cup back from European hands.
