Anthony Kim Eyes Major Championship Returns After Stunning LIV Adelaide Win and Rule Changes
Anthony Kim's breakthrough victory at the 2026 LIV Golf Adelaide event has swung open the door to his first major championship starts since 2011. A key change to world ranking rules and a new U. S. Open exemption give Kim multiple pathways back into golf's biggest events.
How the OWGR change fuels Kim's run to Augusta
One of the most consequential developments for Kim is the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) recognizing LIV Golf this year. Under the new framework, top-10 finishers in LIV events now receive OWGR points. Kim reaped an immediate benefit: his Adelaide victory catapulted him from 847th to 203rd in the OWGR.
The Masters, scheduled for April 9-12, 2026 (ET), has one of the strictest ranking-based entry windows. To secure a spot the world rankings, a player must be inside the top 50 by April 6, 2026 (ET). Kim still needs to climb 153 places to reach that threshold, and with only three LIV tournaments remaining before the April cutoff, the path is steep. Another win or a series of high finishes in those events would be required for a realistic shot at Augusta.
Kim's history at the Masters adds context: his best major finish came at Augusta in 2010, when he tied for third, and he last played a major in 2011. The possibility of returning to Augusta for the first time in 15 years carries significant narrative weight for his comeback.
Clearer routes to the U. S. Open and PGA Championship
The U. S. Open and the PGA Championship also present viable routes back into the major rotation for Kim. The U. S. Open offers direct entry to players ranked inside the top 60 in the OWGR by May 18, 2026 (ET). Given the longer timeline between Adelaide and the May ranking window, Kim has more breathing room to accumulate points and move up the list.
Crucially, a new special exemption for the U. S. Open gives LIV players an additional avenue. The exemption grants a spot to the top LIV player not otherwise exempt who sits inside the top three of the LIV Individual standings as of May 18, 2026 (ET). After his Adelaide triumph, Kim sits second in the LIV Individual standings, with only one player ahead of him. If players above him are already exempt, Kim would clinch a U. S. Open berth by maintaining a top-three position in LIV's individual rankings.
The PGA Championship, set for May at Aronimink, typically extends invitations to players ranked roughly inside the top 100 in the OWGR ahead of the event. That criterion is generally more forgiving than the Master's top-50 cutoff, giving Kim an alternative world-ranking target to chase during the spring schedule.
Outlook: what Kim needs and the schedule ahead
Kim's immediate priorities are clear: capitalize on the momentum from Adelaide by contending in the remaining LIV events before the major entry cutoffs. For the Masters, the clock is shortest — the April 6, 2026 (ET) ranking snapshot is unforgiving. For the U. S. Open and PGA Championship, Kim benefits from later deadlines and the special U. S. Open exemption tied to LIV standings.
Beyond math and deadlines, Kim's win matters psychologically. It was his first victory in 16 years and came against elite competition, including high-profile opponents. If he can string together another top performance or two, a return to the major stages this season could shift from possibility to reality, marking a dramatic chapter in a comeback that has already surprised the sport.
