Kim wins LIV Golf Adelaide in stirring fashion as remarkable journey continues

Before a shot was even struck in the final round of LIV Golf Adelaide, the excitement was palpable from the overflowing galleries as they filled various locations throughout The Grange.

After all, Crushers GC Captain Bryson DeChambeau and Legion XIII Captain Jon Rahm were tied for the lead entering Sunday, local favorite and Ripper GC Captain Cameron Smith was within striking distance and new 4Aces GC member Anthony Kim was looking to complete his remarkable journey by hoisting a trophy.

In the end, the golf world was treated to one of the best Sunday showdowns in recent memory. And it was Kim who would lift the hardware after a stunning Sunday surge which saw him shoot a 9-under 63 to win by three shots over Rahm.

It was Kim's first professional win since 2010. After a 12-year absence from the game during which he battled drug and alcohol addiction, he returned to pro golf in 2024 as a Wild Card player on LIV Golf. Just prior to LIV Golf Adelaide, 4Aces GC Captain Dustin Johnson signed him as a team member.

And now, just call him “The Comeback Kim”.

“I really don’t know what to say right now,” said Kim, who has been open and honest about his past struggles and how he got sober. “It’s been overwhelming. I’m never not going to fight for my family. God gave me a talent and I was able to produce some good golf today. I knew it was coming. Nobody else has to believe in me but me. For anybody who’s struggling, you can get through anything.”

Playing in the final group with two superstars in DeChambeau and Rahm, Kim stayed patient early. He opened with three pars but made birdies on four of his next six holes as he made the turn.

The front nine was more of a sparring match between DeChambeau and Rahm, who entered the fourth round tied atop the leaderboard, five shots ahead of Kim. But while they were feeling each other out with some light punches, Kim was starting to land body blows. Back-to-back birdies on 12 and 13 resulted in Kim throwing two literal overhand fist punches into the air in celebration. When the second birdie putt dropped, Kim had overcome the deficit and held a one-shot lead over Rahm as the crowd roared.

He wasn’t done. Kim would build the lead to three shots with two more birdies on the next two holes – 14 and 15 – stretching his birdie streak to four consecutive holes while unleashing more celebratory punches. After a hard-working par on No 16, he made yet another birdie on No 17 and took a three-shot lead to the final hole.

After he tapped in for par on the 18th, he was greeted by his wife Emily and daughter Bella. After an emotional embrace, seemingly every LIV Golf player lined up to hug and congratulate Kim.

Rahm finished solo second with a final-round 1-under 71 and DeChambeau finished T3 after a 2-over 74.

On the team side, Legion XIII held a five-shot lead over Ripper GC entering the day. But the All-Aussie team made a huge comeback and gave the local fans plenty to cheer for as Ripper GC won the team trophy by two shots.