Anthony Kim is playing ‘better’, but a big LIV Golf question arises

Anthony Kim’s return to the professional world of golf has been difficult.

After spending nearly 12 years away from the professional game, Kim returned in 2024 as a wild-card player for LIFE Golf. Kim’s return brought initial buzz, but the 40-year-old struggled on the breakaway circuit. He failed to earn an individual point in two years and was relegated after finishing 55th in the individual standings this season. A LIV franchise could still re-sign Kim. If he is not, he will have an opportunity to earn a spot at the LIV Promotions event, the date of which has not been announced by the league.

Kim can play in the Asian tournament, but he told bunkered.co that he is unsure of his game plans for 2026.

“I just need to get more reps of the tournament,” Kim said in the bunker at the LINK Hong Kong Open. “If I can keep getting better, I’ll be fine.

“I don’t think I’ll play as many Asian tournaments as I thought (in 2026). I’ll play some, but I’ll just see how it goes. I have no idea what my plans are for next year.”

Kim is one of a number of LIV golfers to have made it this week in Hong Kong, with the winner earning a spot in the 2026 Masters and Open. While Kim finds himself well 54-hole pace set by leader Tom McKibbinhe opened with rounds of 68 and 67, which marked his best 36-hole score since he re-entered professional golf.

“It’s the best I’ve hit the ball since coming back,” he said bunkered.co. “I just don’t have the ball in the hole. I finally see the work I’m doing. I’m excited.

“I wish I could have scored a little bit better, but hopefully I’ll make it through the weekend and have a few more days. It’s only been two days, but I hit the ball really well. It’s coming.”

Kim dropped another 67 on Saturday and is currently ranked 46th in Hong Kong. Kim missed the cut at last week’s Philippine International Series but posted a T44 finish at the Jakarta International Championship earlier this month.

Last year, Kim opened up for his return to professional golf and struggles to regain its former form. After 12 years away, it would be unfair to assume that Anthony Kim would return ait’s the same golfer or mA was when he left.

“I’m still working on regaining the focus I need to hit good shots and compete at the highest level,” Kim told GOLF.com’s Art Stricklin. “I have to focus on every shot, and there were five to six shots in a round where I wasn’t focused, which led to some bad holes. That’s where the momentum starts to shift, which leads to big scores. That was the number one thing for me.”

At LIV Miami, Kim noted that the biggest difference between then AND now it’s that he likes what he’s doing.

“Even when I was playing well, I don’t think I liked golf,” Kim said last year. “Right now, I’m actually enjoying practicing, which has never happened before.”

Nearly two years since his return, Kim finally feels like he’s starting to see the fruits of his labor. He believes his game is starting to turn around; it’s just unclear where he’ll see progress continue in 2026 – at LIV or elsewhere.