In 2022, I stood on the practice green of TPC Avenel watching the world’s top pros dial in their putting stroke as they prepared for the final round of the Wells Fargo Championship. As I gazed up at the lamp posts that surrounded the green I saw a picture of 2008 past champion, Anthony Kim.

At the time, it had been ten years since I (or anyone for that matter) had seen AK play a professional tournament. As a golf fan, I felt robbed of seeing a rising star compete in his prime. This sentiment was shared by many in the golf world. Kim’s talent and personality put him on a bullet train toward superstardom, but his sudden departure from the game prevented the world from seeing AK achieving that fame. It also left most of us saying, “what if.”

When he stepped away, Kim had won three times (before his 25th birthday) and was a key member of the 2008 Ryder Cup. Add in his style, his swagger, and his game and you have a recipe for an intriguing and popular superstar. Unfortunately, injuries took that away. And with his reported insurance policy, it seemed likely we would never see AK compete again. 

Fast forward to 2023. With a new tour on the scene, rumors began about a possible return. Could LIV Golf and its seemingly limitless amounts of cash coax Kim out of retirement? 

In February 2024 we got our answer. This weekend in Saudia Arabia, Anthony Kim will be back. It’s a move that has excited the golfing world, but it is not without mystery. In time, we will hopefully learn the answers to specific questions. What has AK been up to for 12 years? How are his injuries? How is his golf game? 

We will get an answer to the last question this weekend. 

The general consensus about AK’s return seems to be positive. Kim seems excited to be back playing competitive golf and will likely boost the number of eyeballs on the LIV tour. 

To announce his return, Kim posted a video to his social media accounts that included clips of him on the range and with his family. But the interesting part of his video is the ending. A black screen with the text “hello haters, I’m back.”

This part of the video led many to ask the question, does Anthony Kim have haters???

In his absence from professional golf, the legend of AK grew. What could have been if he hadn’t had career-threatening injuries? As is often the case, we glorified AK’s accomplishments and began to extrapolate his career in a way that took on an almost legendary status. Surely he would have major championship trophies at home and could have been the face of the PGA Tour. At least that’s how we remember the past 12 years. 

I think you’d be hard-pressed to find “haters” of Kim. We really just wanted him back because of all the what-ifs. The haters comment led me to ask the simple question, “Are you an AK hater?”

With hundreds of votes so far, the results speak for themselves. The answer is no. The consensus among golf fans seems to be clear: Anthony Kim doesn’t have many haters.

However, it does appear there is one strong caveat: I loved AK before, but now I’m not sure. His move to LIV has put many people in a tough spot. Am I excited a promising American star is back? Yes. Am I happy he’s doing it with LIV? Not really. 

Obviously, LIV is controversial for a variety of reasons and Kim returning to golf on this tour seems to cut PGA Tour stans deep. In many minds, Kim had the potential to be the face of the PGA Tour, especially in a time devoid of popular, marketable stars. Sure, Rory McIlroy, Ricky Fowler, Scottie Scheffler, etc. have fans, but they don’t have the flair and personality that Anthony Kim has. For many, it’s going to be tough to see AK teeing it up in exhibition matches for LIV.

I, for one, will try to tune in. The story of Anthony Kim’s return is a blend of hope, speculation, and the undeniable allure of what-if, even if it is with LIV Golf. If I can figure out how to watch, I’ll be watching AK with cautious optimism and haven’t been this excited since a comeback since Tiger Woods at Riviera. 

Okay, that was earlier this month, but that’s the kind of impact Anthony Kim can have on the golf world. At 38 years old, we can still have several years of AK playing world-class golf. Sure we may have been deprived of a prime Anthony Kim, but there’s no reason to think he can’t play at a high level. Hopefully, we will get some clarity on the state of his game this weekend and can start to put to bed some of those what-ifs.