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Until you had zero expectations for Anthony Kim’s return to skilled golf, your expectations had been too excessive.
After three wins on the PGA Tour and two appearances for Crew USA within the Ryder Cup and President Cup (5-2-1 total), Kim was tabbed as golf’s subsequent younger expertise within the late 2000s. Surgical procedure to his Achilles in 2012 – and an insurance coverage coverage rumored within the $10 million vary – saved Kim away from the skilled recreation for the final 12 years earlier than the 38-year-old joined the LIV Golf League for the 2024 season as a wild card participant.
The universally beloved fan-favorite began the week with a puzzling “Hello haters” hype video that fell as flat as his efficiency, each of which shocked followers given how high-energy Kim was. It’s far too early to make sweeping judgments, but when the primary three rounds in Saudi Arabia are any indication of what’s to return, the previous rising star could have burned out.
By any customary, irrespective of how low the bar was, Kim struggled in his debut at LIV Golf Jeddah with a dead-last end at 16 over, greater than 10 photographs behind the penultimate participant on the leaderboard at Royal Greens Golf and Nation Membership.
“Clearly it was a tough week. I’m excited to be taking part in skilled golf once more. I really feel very blessed that I’ve this chance,” Kim stated of his debut. “I’ve obtained so much to work on, however I had lots of good issues go my means this week. So I’m trying ahead to constructing on that and being in competition in some unspecified time in the future this 12 months.
“I’m positively hitting the ball properly. I’m doing lots of issues properly. I do know the scores don’t replicate that. It’s disappointing to attain that means. However on the identical time, I do know I’ve so much to construct on, and I’m simply going to maintain doing what I’m doing.”
Right here’s a have a look at AK’s return to skilled golf by the numbers.
Anthony Kim tees off on the tenth gap throughout day one of many 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah at Royal Greens Golf & Nation Membership in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Picture: Francois Nel/Getty Pictures)
Kim’s 16-over end is the worst in relation to par to date this LIV Golf season. Harold Varner III was 14 over to begin the season in Mayakoba whereas Brendan Steele and Charl Schwartzel every completed 10 over in Las Vegas.
It’s additionally the fifth-worst end during the last two LIV seasons:
Sihwan Kim, 23 over (2023 LIV Golf Mayakoba)
Lee Westwood, 20 over (2023 LIV Golf Bedminster)
Sihwan Kim, 19 over (2023 LIV Golf Tucson)
Martin Kaymer, 17 over (2023 LIV Golf Bedminster)
Sihwan Kim, 17 (2023 LIV Golf Andalucia)
At 16 over, Kim’s rating was 10 photographs worse than the very best scores in every of the final two LIV Golf occasions at Royal Greens. Chase Koepka completed 6 over in 2023 a 12 months after Pat Perez completed 6 over in 2022.
Anthony Kim on the 18th gap throughout day one of many 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah at Royal Greens Golf & Nation Membership in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Picture: Francois Nel/Getty Pictures)
Kim didn’t simply end final, he was a whopping 11 photographs behind the subsequent finest participant, Hudson Swafford at 5 over.
Anthony Kim on from the primary gap throughout day one of many 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah at Royal Greens Golf & Nation Membership in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Picture: Francois Nel/Getty Pictures)
When you thought 11 photographs behind 52nd was dangerous, he was 33 behind the winner Joaquin Niemann.
Anthony Kim on the primary inexperienced throughout day one in every of 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah at Royal Greens Golf & Nation Membership in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Picture: Francois Nel/Getty Pictures)
Kim made simply 4 birdies over the 54 holes, the bottom whole within the subject. Ian Poulter made the second-fewest with 5 and completed T-51 at 4 over, 12 photographs forward of Kim.
Anthony Kim on the second tee field throughout day one of many 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah at Royal Greens Golf & Nation Membership in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Picture: Francois Nel/Getty Pictures)
Kim hit 90 putts over the 54 holes, ok for T-41 for the week out of 54 gamers with a median of 1.67 per gap. There wasn’t a lot separation from Kim and the underside of the pack, the place Mito Pereira and Paul Casey introduced up the rear with 94 whole putts (1.74 per gap).
Anthony Kim on the primary fairway throughout day one of many 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah at Royal Greens Golf & Nation Membership in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Picture: Francois Nel/Getty Pictures)
One other considerably vibrant spot was how Kim scrambled. For the week he was 12-of-28 to complete 52nd in scrambling at 43 %, however he did properly comparatively within the second spherical at 6-for-11 (55 %). Bubba Watson completed final over the three rounds at 40 %.
Anthony Kim on the primary gap throughout day one of many 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah at Royal Greens Golf & Nation Membership in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Picture: Francois Nel/Getty Pictures)
Kim discovered simply 26 of the 54 greens in regulation to complete final within the metric at 48 %. He was the lone participant to complete under 50 %.
Anthony Kim on the primary tee throughout day one of many 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah at Royal Greens Golf & Nation Membership in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Picture: Francois Nel/Getty Pictures)
Kim discovered the green 16 occasions out of 42 makes an attempt, ok for forty seventh on the week alongside the likes of Phil Mickelson, Lucas Herbert and Marc Leishman. The one gamers to complete with a worse proportion had been Peter Uihlein (36 %), Bryson DeChambeau and Dean Burmester (31 %).
Anthony Kim performs a tee shot on the sixteenth tee throughout day two of the 2024 LIV Golf Jeddah at Royal Greens Golf & Nation Membership in King Abdullah Financial Metropolis, Saudi Arabia. (Picture: Francois Nel/Getty Pictures)
This one could also be a bit deceptive as a result of it was solely tallied on Nos. 4 and 9, however we will solely use the stats LIV offers. Kim completed with a median driving distance of 294 yards. He’s 10 years youthful than Pat Perez and 12 years youthful than Lee Westwood and was 2 yards behind them each.
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