Anthony Kim sees key starts thanks to win (and rule changes)

Anthony Kim stunned the golf world this weekend with one monumental victory at the LIV Golf Adelaide 2026 event. It was seismic for the fact that Kim had struggled heavily on the course since his comeback began two years ago. And because it was his first victory in 16 years (not to mention he threw out Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau in the process).

But there’s at least one way Kim can take his shocking comeback to a whole new level: playing in this year’s majors.

Amazingly, Kim is currently in position to qualify for two majors in 2026 (the Open and the US Open), which would be his first major start since 2011. Not only that, but he also has potential paths to the other two (the Masters and the PGA Championship). And he has two new exclusion criteria and a rule change to thank.

Here’s what you need to know.

Anthony Kim’s Masters qualification status for 2026

The first, and perhaps most important, major of the year is the 2026 Masters, set for April 9-12 at Augusta National. Kim recorded his best ever finish (T3) at the 2010 Masters. He made his last appearance in 2011.

Kim’s path to his first Masters appearance in 15 years may be the toughest of all the majors. Barring a surprise special invitation, the only way Kim can qualify for the 2026 Masters is by reaching the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) by April 6.

Thanks to a key rule change passed this year, Kim has a realistic chance of making it happen. Ahead of the 2026 LIV season, OWGR officially recognized LIV Golf for the first time. Now, top-10 finishers in LIV events earn world ranking points.

That shift paid off big for Kim on Sunday. Thanks to his win at LIV Adelaide, Kim arched by 847 THE 203 in OWGR. He still needs to score 153 places by April to win the 2026 Masters.

With just three LIV tournaments remaining before the Masters, Kim will likely need a win or two to get to Augusta.

Anthony Kim’s 2026 PGA Championship Qualification Status

Kim’s path to May’s PGA Championship at Aronimink, the second major of the year, also depends on the world ranking. The PGA Championship’s exclusion criteria based on world ranking are not set in stone as with the Masters, but they tend to be more generous.

Traditionally, players ranked in the OWGR Top 100 prior to the tournament receive invitations to play the PGA. That’s 50 fewer world rankings for Kim to climb, and he’ll have more time to do it than he did at the Masters.

Anthony Kim’s 2026 US Open Qualification Status

As with the Masters and PGA Championships, Kim can earn a spot at the 2026 US Open at Shinnecock Hills through the world rankings.

The US Open awards spots to anyone ranked in the Top 60 by May 18 or the week before the tournament. So Kim could buy a little time that way.

But this is not his only way in the tournament.

last year, USGA Announces Special New Exemption at 2025 and 2026 US Opens for LIV Players. For the 2026 event, the “best player not otherwise exempt and in the top 3 of the 2026 LIV Golf individual rankings as of May 18, 2026” will receive an exemption to the tournament.

So Kim only needs to be in the Top 3 of this year’s LIV individual rankings to earn a spot at the US Open, as long as the players above him are already out.

And it is very accessible to CA. After his win at LIV Adelaide, Kim is in second place in the individual ranking of LIV with only Rahmi in front.

Additionally, “local exemptions” to the final 36-hole round of US Open qualifying “will be awarded to the top 10 players from the 2025 LIV Final Individual Golf Rankings, as well as the top 10 players from the 2026 individual golf rankings as of April 6, 2026.” So Kim can earn a spot in the qualifying tournament through the LIV ranking and play his way through.

Anthony Kim’s 2026 Open Championship Qualification Status

When it comes to the 2026 Open at Royal Birkdale, Kim’s chances of qualifying are similar to the US Open.

The Open Championship will offer places to the top 50 on the OWGR from the end of May.

But Open is too providing a specific exemption for LIV in the 2026 event. According to the R&A, an open spot will be awarded to “the first player and anyone tied for that spot, not otherwise disqualified, in the 2026 LIV Golf individual season standings at the conclusion of LIV Golf Louisiana.”

As with the US Open, Kim is currently in position to earn this Open exemption based on his No. 2 in the LIV individual standings. He will need to maintain his position until the end of LIV Golf Louisiana on June 28 to reach the Open in July.