Anthony Kim makes eye-catching debut for 4Aces after earning full team spot
Anthony Kim’s comeback continued to gather momentum as the 40-year-old opened with a 5-under 67 in Adelaide, his first event as an official member of the 4Aces. The round tied him with team captain Dustin Johnson for the squad’s best score and helped push the 4Aces into the Day 1 team lead.
Strong start in Adelaide
The announcement of Kim’s addition to the 4Aces came just before the opening round on Feb. 12, 2026 (ET), and he delivered immediately. Kim’s 67 left him tied for third on the individual leaderboard, just one shot back of the co-leaders Bryson DeChambeau and Marc Leishman. His play included a number of high-quality approaches and timely scrambling on a day the course played tricky for the field.
“We’re super-excited to have AK join the team, ” Johnson said before play. “Obviously, he’s trending in the right direction. When you take that long from the game, it takes a while to get it back. But I’ve played enough with him, and you can tell it’s still in there. He’s been working really hard, and I think he’s going to be a really good addition. ”
Kim was complimentary of the result and measured about expectations. “I think I’m delusional enough that my expectations were the same today as they were two years ago, ” he said after the round. “But now I’m actually able to produce some of the good shots. I’ve been working hard and it’s nice to see rounds like today where they could have been much lower, but it was still solid and on a tricky day. I think I have a lot of opportunity in front of me, and if I just keep working, I don't see why I can’t be contending on Sundays. ”
From comeback qualifying to a roster slot — and a fresh bag
Kim’s path back to a full-time roster spot was not straightforward. After returning to competitive golf in 2024 following a 12-year absence tied to injuries and personal matters, he had been competing as an independent wildcard. He lost full status at the end of last season but re-earned his place by finishing third at the circuit’s Promotions Event, the league’s version of a qualifying school. That result opened the door for the 4Aces to pursue him as a replacement for Patrick Reed, who departed the circuit to pursue playing opportunities elsewhere this year.
Beyond the on-course momentum, Kim’s equipment setup has evolved as he’s re-established himself. He has mixed brands across his bag, blending Callaway, Titleist and TaylorMade heads with popular shafts. For the Adelaide start he was using a Callaway driver that has become widely adopted since its recent release, paired with a Fujikura Ventus Black shaft. His fairway wood setup included a 3-wood and a newly introduced 5-wood that he can swap with an 18-degree utility iron depending on the course and conditions.
Kim’s rapid progress through the promotions process and immediate impact in a team setting have drawn praise from teammates. Team management said they evaluated multiple options before settling on Kim, citing his upward trajectory and the impression he made in recent events.
What comes next
Kim’s short-term goals are straightforward: keep improving, stay patient and push toward contention on Sundays. The early signs are promising — a strong opener in Adelaide, a restored place on a top roster and equipment adjustments that suggest he’s dialing in the parts of his game that mattered most during his long absence. If Kim can sustain this form, he could become a key contributor for his team as the season unfolds.
