Anthony Kim manages to secure his LIV Tour card through a dramatic Promotions event—an outcome that might surprise many. But here’s where it gets controversial: Kim, a veteran with a notable history, is demonstrating resilience and persistence after years away from the spotlight. The 40-year-old golfer, who has been competing intermittently over the past two seasons as a wild-card entrant on the Saudi-backed LIV circuit, successfully retained his place when he finished third overall in the four-day LIV Promotions competition held at Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, Florida.
Two other notable players also earned their LIV cards. One is Richard T. Lee, a 35-year-old from Canada, who finished as the medalist with an impressive score of 11 under par. The other is Bjorn Hellgren from Sweden, also 35, who shot a superb 64 in the final round to finish at 6 under, with their scores having been reset twice—after the first two rounds—adding an extra layer of complexity to the competition.
Kim, who was automatically exempt into the second round, started off strong by shooting a 69, which helped him make the initial cut. Over the weekend, he improved his performance with rounds of 66 and 69, ultimately finishing two shots ahead of four competitors tied for fourth place. His Sunday round was particularly noteworthy: he birdied three of the five holes starting at the 7th hole and added another birdie at the 16th hole, a par-5. Earlier, he also nailed an 18-foot par save at the 14th, demonstrating his clutch play under pressure.
Understanding the backgrounds of his competitors adds depth to his achievement. Richard T. Lee was the runner-up at the 2006 U.S. Junior Championship when he was just 15, and he qualified for the U.S. Open the following year at Oakmont—though he had to withdraw due to a wrist injury. Lee has since amassed seven wins across the Asian and Korean golf tours. Meanwhile, Bjorn Hellgren, who was teammates with notable PGA Tour players Brooks Koepka and Daniel Berger during his college days at Florida State, turned professional in 2013 and claimed victory at last year’s Saudi Open on the Asian Tour.
Kim’s story is particularly compelling: a three-time PGA Tour winner and former Ryder Cup participant who took a significant break from competitive golf—spanning over a decade. In his debut season with LIV, he struggled to make an impact, failing to crack the top 35 in ten starts. His fortunes slightly improved this year, with a single top-25 finish— a T-25 in Dallas—and a ranking of No. 55 in LIV’s points list, slightly better than his previous year. His recent highlight was tying for fifth at the Saudi International last November, his best finish since 2011, proving that with perseverance, his competitive edge remains sharp.
