Get ready for an exciting shake-up in the world of LIV Golf! Anthony Kim's comeback story is about to take an intriguing turn.
In a surprising move, Anthony Kim, the veteran golfer, is joining Dustin Johnson's 4Aces GC for the remainder of the 2026 LIV Golf season. This marks a significant shift from his previous role as an independent Wild Card player to becoming a full-fledged team member. The announcement was made on Thursday, just before the highly anticipated opening round of LIV Golf Adelaide.
Kim's journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Since resuming his professional golf career in 2024 after a 12-year hiatus, he's been on a rollercoaster ride. After being relegated last season, he fought his way back into a full-time position at the recent LIV Golf Promotions, securing one of the three qualifying spots.
"I'm thrilled to be joining the team," Kim shared at The Grange Golf Club. "This is a fresh start, and I hope to contribute to the team's success."
But here's where it gets controversial... Kim's spot as a Wild Card will be filled by Miguel Tabuena, who finished third in last year's International Series season-long rankings. Tabuena is the first player from the Philippines to join LIV Golf, adding an exciting international flavor to the team.
At 40 years old, Kim is coming off his best result in 25 LIV Golf starts, tying for 22nd at the ROSHN Group LIV Golf Riyadh last week. After two years of working through the rust, his recent performances suggest he's back in top form.
In November, he tied for fifth at the PIF Saudi International, his first top-10 finish since returning. He followed that up with a third-place finish at the Promotions event and then carried the momentum to the season-opening tournament in Riyadh, where his final-round performance of 6-under 66 moved him up nine spots on the leaderboard.
"We're thrilled to have AK on board," Johnson said. "He's on an upward trajectory. After such a long break from the game, it takes time to get back into the swing of things. But I've played with him enough to know that he's still got it. He's been working incredibly hard, and I think he'll be a fantastic addition to the team."
Kim is filling the spot left vacant by Patrick Reed, who has shifted his focus to the DP World Tour. 4Aces General Manager Chris Rosaasen revealed that they considered various replacement options. Last week in Riyadh, the team utilized Tabuena as a reserve player, finishing in third place, thanks to the impressive performances of their Belgian players, Thomas Pieters and newcomer Thomas Detry.
Kim outperformed Tabuena by seven shots in Riyadh. Had Kim been in the 4Aces lineup, the team would have tied for second.
After arriving in Adelaide, Rosaasen and Johnson agreed that Kim was their top choice. They even consulted with Detry and Pieters, who gave their stamp of approval.
"We've been following his journey since he joined the league two years ago, and he's been consistently improving," Rosaasen said. "We initially thought our team was set for the season, but then we had to reconsider. Dustin and I explored various options. We made offers to other players, but those deals fell through. Ultimately, we decided that Anthony was our best choice."
"He played alongside Thomas Detry in Riyadh, and Thomas was impressed with his game. Pieters has also been a big fan of Anthony's."
Before his retirement, Kim was a key member of the 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team that defeated Europe at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky. He paired with HyFlyers GC Captain Phil Mickelson in three matches and then defeated Fireballs GC Captain Sergio Garcia in the opening match of Sunday Singles, setting the tone for the Americans' impressive five-point victory.
After spending the last two years honing his skills independently, Kim is excited to be part of LIV Golf's unique team environment.
"To be honest, I've always been a lone wolf," Kim admitted. "That's why I enjoyed the few team opportunities I had. I'm super excited about this chance. I want to be around these guys, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the year."
Johnson believes that the support Kim will receive as part of the 4Aces team will accelerate his return to the form he displayed during his most successful period from 2008 to 2010, when he won four tournaments.
"He's been doing everything on his own," Johnson explained. "Being on a team and playing with me, Thomas, and Thomas will only help. It's exciting to see him improving. His hard work is starting to pay off."
"We're excited to have him, and if he plays well, it's a fantastic story."
Kim seems like a perfect fit for the dominant 4Aces club, which won five out of eight events in LIV Golf's inaugural 2022 season, including the first Team Championship. The team exudes confidence and swagger, setting the bar high as the league's first dominant club.
"It's funny reading through social media comments when I have time," Rosaasen said. "Many people speculated that Kim would be the next Ace. To be honest, we weren't thinking along those lines initially. But Dustin and I had a conversation about it recently."
"I think he [Kim] has what it takes. Pieters mentioned something interesting as we discussed everything. He said Anthony has proven himself on the biggest stages. We considered some young, newly turned professionals, but none of them are proven yet."
"Anthony has been a Ryder Cup star, and he's won multiple times on the biggest stages. It's like some people have that special something, and others don't. And Anthony definitely has it, and he's getting even better. We're excited to have him on the team and see what he can achieve."
While Kim's comeback is on an upward trajectory, he knows there's still room for improvement.
"I've turned a corner in terms of playing better golf," he said. "But I'm not where I want to be yet. I think I'm getting there. I'm not quite at my peak, or where I'm capable of being. I believe there's a lot of potential for the rest of the year and my career."
This move is sure to spark some interesting discussions among golf enthusiasts. What do you think? Is Kim's addition to the 4Aces team a smart move? Will he help the team maintain its dominance? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
