Anthony Kim completes remarkable comeback with first win in 16 years
Anthony Kim ended a 16-year victory drought on Feb. 14, 2026 (ET), closing with a bogey-free, nine-under final round to claim LIV Australia at Royal Adelaide and capture one of the sport’s most unexpected comebacks.
Flawless finish at Royal Adelaide
Kim, 40, produced a stunning charge Sunday with a closing stretch that included four straight birdies and five birdies in six holes to separate himself from a chasing group that featured multiple major champions. He finished 23 under par, winning by three shots after a day that featured fist pumps, emotional embraces and scenes of celebration on the 18th green.
The final round was spotless: no bogeys, precise tee shots and a hot putter that turned birdie chances into momentum. Roughly 38, 500 fans at Royal Adelaide followed the run to the final hole, with supporters moving up the fairway to witness the moment Kim sealed the title. Teammates doused him with celebratory fizz on the green, and Kim shared an emotional embrace with his wife and young daughter as the magnitude of the achievement sank in.
“I don’t really know what to say right now, ” Kim said after the victory, fighting back tears. “It’s a bit overwhelming, but I’m never not gonna fight for my family. God gave me a talent, I was able to produce some good golf today. I knew it was coming. Nobody else had to believe in me but me. ”
From disappearance and recovery to the winner’s circle
The triumph completes a long and complicated arc. Kim vanished from the professional game for more than a decade after early-career highs, and his return to competition began in March 2024 following a 12-year hiatus. He battled personal issues in the interim and has been open about his path to recovery; he will mark three years sober on Feb. 20, 2026 (ET).
His route back to eligibility for marquee events was bumpy. Kim lost his spot in the field at one point but earned promotion for the 2026 season by finishing third at a promotions event in January, regaining his place on the circuit and locking in a start in Adelaide. He nearly missed the tournament after forgetting to secure an Australian visa, but that issue was resolved on Feb. 8, 2026 (ET), allowing him to tee it up in the second event of the season.
Kim’s return also included a new team arrangement for the season. He joined a squad led by a former major champion and settled into competition mode in recent weeks, showing signs that the form which once made him a top player had begun to re-emerge.
Stakes, prize money and what’s next
The win brings a $4 million payday and carries ranking implications: Kim can climb as high as 200th in the Official World Golf Ranking with the Adelaide victory. More than the money or points, the moment provides a dramatic narrative reset for a player whose career was once widely regarded as unfinished business.
Kim said the victory carries a message for anyone facing steep challenges. “For anybody that’s struggling right now, you can get through anything, ” he said. The coming weeks will test whether this performance is the start of a sustained resurgence, but for now Kim leaves Royal Adelaide with a trophy, a sizable prize and an unmistakable reminder that comebacks remain possible in professional sport.
