Anthony Kim: Twitter reacts to LIV Golf comeback

It’s official. Golf’s greatest enigma is returning from the shadows.

Anthony Kim, once the shining star on the PGA Tour, will make his first competitive start in 12 years this week.

The charismatic American’s disappearance from the spotlight has been one of the most intriguing golf stories never told, but we will now find out what really happened to the 38-year-old – and what he’s got left.

Kim has signed a once unthinkable deal to join LIV Golf and will make his debut on the Saudi-backed circuit as one of the wildcards during the third event of the season in Jeddah.

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In a LIV Golf video shared by commissioner Greg Norman, Kim’s comeback is being dubbed the ‘Dance of Redemption.”

Kim’s last competitive start came in May 2012 aged 26, when he withdrew after just one round of the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow.

Now, over a decade later, he will tee it up at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in Saudi with huge interest about the quality of his game.

Kim, of course, has proven at the elite level that he is a hugely talented player. He is a winner of three PGA Tour titles and starred in a winning US Ryder Cup team in 2008.

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He made a record 11 birdies in a single round in the 2009 Masters at Augusta National.

But Kim, now nearing his forties, hasn’t played a professional round for well over 12 years and struggled towards the end of his time on the PGA Tour with a string of missed cuts and withdrawals.

It appears a huge challenge for Kim to be competitive , but we won’t know how his game looks until he tees it up on Friday in Jeddah.

Here’s how the golf world has reacted to Kim’s return on social media…

He oozes incredible talent. The world has seen it in the past and now it is an honour as Commissioner of LIV Golf to give the opportunity for this star to be reborn. Welcome back and to the LIV Golf family mate. The golf world has missed you. pic.twitter.com/HNzsXPgFUp

— Greg Norman (@SharkGregNorman) February 26, 2024

Anthony Kim is back. If is what golf needs we will see but it will be exciting to see if he is as good as how he was… https://t.co/xSjSjbirCB

— Pablo Larrazabal (@plarrazabal) February 26, 2024

After 12 years off, I wonder if he can now ‘intentionally’ hit a fade or a draw? I’ve got a good story on that. Saving it for my next podcast on @performancegolfpodcast. 🏌️‍♂️⛳️ https://t.co/gVvrq1ymeM

— Sir Nick Faldo (@NickFaldo006) February 26, 2024

With Anthony Kim, I’m kind of curious why he wouldn’t play a few mini-tour events before making his LIV debut.

Feel like reintroducing yourself against some really good players – without any recent competitive reps – is an *interesting* strategy.

— Kevin Casey (@KevinCaseyGC) February 26, 2024

Anthony Kim opens at 150-1 in LIV Jeddah

same odds as Poulter and ahead of guys like Na, Phil, and Westwood.

— Eric Patterson (@EPatGolf) February 26, 2024

Anthony Kim might be the first player to join LIV in order to spend less time with his family.

— Michael McEwan (@MMcEwanGolf) February 26, 2024

I love the people who are saying “it’s too bad Anthony Kim is playing on LIV, so I’m not gonna watch him play.”

If you were a true fan of the guy back in the day, then where he plays shouldn’t matter. Just be happy we are getting to see him competing again.

— Tour Pro 🏌️‍♂️ (@OfficialTourPro) February 26, 2024

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I'm super interested to see how Anthony Kim plays this week, but just reminder about where he was when he left. This was his last 10 starts on Tour. Now 38 and 12 years removed from his last start, the odds are stacked so heavily against him.

— Monday Q Info (@acaseofthegolf1) February 26, 2024