Anthony Kim - Gawd I miss this guy (THREADS MERGED)

[Yorkshiregolf81]

On 4/7/2024 at 11:26 PM, Hawkeye77 said:

161 in two rounds of “professional” golf? With zero pressure? Halfway decent course caught him out. 
 

Not just 4 caps - Rick Shiels can beat him. 

Rick Shiels couldn't beat his over enthusiastic and easily impressed sidekick at the moment. AK has talent and guts, but this is just hard to watch. 

[Hawkeye77]

47 minutes ago, Yorkshiregolf81 said:

Rick Shiels couldn't beat his over enthusiastic and easily impressed sidekick at the moment. AK has talent and guts, but this is just hard to watch. 

He did, actually, lol.  
 

I’m a skeptic on how “gutsy” it is for someone to take a large payday and have zero expectations or honestly, pressure. He got paid, he just needs to show up and he is doing that. 

[Yorkshiregolf81]

40 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

He did, actually, lol.  
 

I’m a skeptic on how “gutsy” it is for someone to take a large payday and have zero expectations or honestly, pressure. He got paid, he just needs to show up and he is doing that. 

Come on, the happy sidekick is a self confessed 7 handicapper and it came down to a one shot win. Shiels is an enthusiastic watch sometimes but his golf game is nada aside from the occasion he times a driver properly. The Sergio match was just terrible to see. 
 

AK knows he has game somewhere but turning up every week to be the circus and finish dead last must be soul destroying; he’s showing some guts just to do that. 

[lopey986]

3 hours ago, dcmidnight said:

 

I really do hope for his sake mentally he does not keep putting up 80s out there. I dont care who you are, that isnt great for your psyche.

 

Clearly he had some stuff going on and needed the money so - I'm glad he got it. Whether Norman had to talk him into playing or not, I really dont care. I'll rely on people here to give me the bullet points when the documentary comes out. But after 4 events, I think we've seen what we're going to see.

 

Honest question - what does success *realistically* look like at this point? He's DFL by 6 strokes this week. IMO he cant go anywhere else because he has zero hope of making a cut. Is he just going to play out the string this year, bank the money and move on with life? LIV cant have him out there like this for another year after this one. Maybe his insurance was paid off so he plays out this year and gets back to grinding it out next year? 

 

I honestly have no idea what realistic success looks like for him.

Seems pretty likely he'll hang around LIV as long as they'll have him and then just go back to whatever it was he has been up to the last 20 years. I don't think there is any reality where he is trying to grind out wins on a lesser tour or get back onto the PGA Tour. 

[Hawkeye77]

22 hours ago, nvr3putt said:

LIV could make it real if they made the players pay to play each event. A $100,000 buy-in would definitely make it real for me. 

 

They are buying in with house money, not all that real.  And there was pretty good evidence that players have expenses LIV is taking out of their money, including in some cases, tournament winnings --- kind of like the old record company deals back in the day, except the "artist" actually comes out way on top.  

[masegolf1978]

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/anthony-kim-announces-his-return-to-pro-golf-says-hes-here-to-bust-everyones-a**-video
 

I had a feeling this wouldn’t age well.

 

i can just picture Kim talking to Norman.

 

ak: I don’t know, I haven’t really played golf in 12 years.

gn: it’s ok. Nobody is watching anyway. Just trying to generate a little buzz.

[AzRoger]

1 hour ago, Yorkshiregolf81 said:

 

AK knows he has game somewhere but turning up every week to be the circus and finish dead last must be soul destroying; he’s showing some guts just to do that. 

Money aside, no golfer who has played at a high level wants to be out in public and look the fool. Especially someone who apparently had/has a substance abuse problem, probably not the strongest mentally to start with, it won't take much for that side to reappear.

[One Putter]

I genuinely feel bad for the guy. He's being taken advantage of imo. They are just using him to gin up interest and his performance is obviously not something he would want put on display.

 

Before anyone chimes in about being paid a lot of money-- yes that's great if it was a rando like one of us. But this guy was a premier golfer....one of the best in the world. He knows this is embarrassing. Just hope he's biting the bullet and doing it for his kid.

Edited April 9 by One Putter

[TheMoneyShot]

AK with another last place finish this week.  Hopefully he can put some nice finishes together and get on a team for next season.  Wishful thinking at this point🤦

Edited April 28 by TheMoneyShot

[AzRoger]

Doesn't LIV automatically drop the four lowest ranked players at the end of the year? Hard to imagine AK would be back for 2025, not the way he's currently playing.

[dcmidnight]

I think over his 12 rounds he is 48 over par. Not sure if that included the Asian Tour event or not.

 

Its just a complete bomb at this point. LIV thought they would score some sort of massive PR win and it turns out almost no one cared.

 

I've said more than once, I would have been rooting him on if he was grinding his way through mini tours or Mondays attempting a comeback. But he did what apparently was best for his family, took the quick guaranteed money and honestly is just clowning around at this point. He cant play golf at a professional level.

 

If his name was Joe Smith and he was coming in DFL or near DFL every week even the LIV fans would be *screaming* to have him cut and give someone else a chance.

[Hawkeye77]

9 hours ago, AzRoger said:

Doesn't LIV automatically drop the four lowest ranked players at the end of the year? Hard to imagine AK would be back for 2025, not the way he's currently playing.

 

He is there on some sort of special invite basis so that may not apply to him - they haven't really said what is deal is, or what any "performance" goals are.

 

I'd be very surprised if he survives one day beyond whatever allows LIV to call it quits.

[J13]

I wish AK well but giving someone status on your tour (LIV) that self admittedly wasn't prepared for professional golf doesn't do them or him any favors.   They used him for headlines regardless of how sharp his game was.  I honestly wouldn't be surprised if this was a 1 and done year for him.  If he has the fire to play at a high level I wish him well though.  

[IndyArcher]

15 minutes ago, J13 said:

I wish AK well but giving someone status on your tour (LIV) that self admittedly wasn't prepared for professional golf doesn't do them or him any favors.   They used him for headlines regardless of how sharp his game was.  I honestly wouldn't be surprised if this was a 1 and done year for him.  If he has the fire to play at a high level I wish him well though.  

 

I have no doubt that you are correct, but someone was exceedingly naive if that is indeed the case. LIV is trying to reach a new, broader audience, right? Who, outside of an already golf-saturated viewership, would have one ounce or knowledge or concern at who Anthony Kim is?? You might as well just recruit and publicize the inclusion of a washed out Key Grip from the show Toddlers and Tiarras^*** to generate less interest. 

 

***For the record, I had to search for the worst tv shows of all time to come up with that title. I have no idea what it actually is! LOL

[bscinstnct]

28 minutes ago, J13 said:

I wish AK well but giving someone status on your tour (LIV) that self admittedly wasn't prepared for professional golf doesn't do them or him any favors.   They used him for headlines regardless of how sharp his game was.  I honestly wouldn't be surprised if this was a 1 and done year for him.  If he has the fire to play at a high level I wish him well though.  

 

If AK got like $10MM, and maybe more, then I’m sure he’s more than happy to be used. Given what he admitted about his previous lifestyle it’s very possible he was broke.

 

Now, hopefully he’s smart, locks in 5% on his bonus, and he make a few hundred grand a year without touching the principal. 

 

He gets some great 💰 and an opportunity. 
 

But, given this threads popularity/his Twitter/media interest he’s got to be one of the guys giving like as much exposure as some guys they paid a lot more for. 
 

 

[MK7Golf21]

For all he has been through and not playing for 12+ years at all I can’t believe he started competing at the highest levels after only 2 months of hitting balls. 

[dcmidnight]

1 minute ago, MK7Golf21 said:

For all he has been through and not playing for 12+ years at all I can’t believe he started competing at the highest levels after only 2 months of hitting balls. 

 

Eh, IMO there's a difference between "taking guaranteed money to show up and play golf" and "competing at the highest levels". Competing to me would be mixing it up in the top 10, having a shot at the lead etc. Not be 24 rounds off the lead after 3 rounds...which unfortunately seems to be about his average.

 

[MK7Golf21]

11 minutes ago, dcmidnight said:

 

Eh, IMO there's a difference between "taking guaranteed money to show up and play golf" and "competing at the highest levels". Competing to me would be mixing it up in the top 10, having a shot at the lead etc. Not be 24 rounds off the lead after 3 rounds...which unfortunately seems to be about his average.

 

 

yeah, I see what you are saying. By competing, I'm saying he is part of the field in competition. 

 

He needed a good year of just playing, hitting balls, working with people outside of the limelight to get ready, not two months. 

[PedronNiall]

7 hours ago, dcmidnight said:

I think over his 12 rounds he is 48 over par. Not sure if that included the Asian Tour event or not.

 

Its just a complete bomb at this point. LIV thought they would score some sort of massive PR win and it turns out almost no one cared.

 

I've said more than once, I would have been rooting him on if he was grinding his way through mini tours or Mondays attempting a comeback. But he did what apparently was best for his family, took the quick guaranteed money and honestly is just clowning around at this point. He cant play golf at a professional level.

 

If his name was Joe Smith and he was coming in DFL or near DFL every week even the LIV fans would be *screaming* to have him cut and give someone else a chance.

 

Said a few times I wish he'd gone the Tour route, but it's clear now why he didn't. He couldn't have made a single cut anywhere that would have gotten him back to the big show the way he's playing now and had he negotiated a path based on past winner's status he would have embarrassed himself in front of an even bigger audience for literally no money due to missing every cut.

 

LIV was his only route back with guaranteed money in the short term the way he's playing. Can't imagine a single sponsor of note would have given him decent dollars to rep anything with the state of his game. Gotta suck building a career path to golf then destroying what you had with drugs and having no skill set or connections to do anything else other than be a blip on an exhibition league's trending stats. 

 

Certainly worse ways to make a few mil, but no doubt it isn't a great feeling. 

[MK7Golf21]

12 minutes ago, PedronNiall said:

 

Said a few times I wish he'd gone the Tour route, but it's clear now why he didn't. He couldn't have made a single cut anywhere that would have gotten him back to the big show the way he's playing now and had he negotiated a path based on past winner's status he would have embarrassed himself in front of an even bigger audience for literally no money due to missing every cut.

 

LIV was his only route back with guaranteed money in the short term the way he's playing. Can't imagine a single sponsor of note would have given him decent dollars to rep anything with the state of his game. Gotta suck building a career path to golf then destroying what you had with drugs and having no skill set or connections to do anything else other than be a blip on an exhibition league's trending stats. 

 

Certainly worse ways to make a few mil, but no doubt it isn't a great feeling. 

 

he was set for life with the money he made while on the pga tour years ago. Problems aside, he was better off financially than most of the US. Not sure about no connections but with the pga tour money he could have been investing and making $$$. 

 

 

[MrDC]

It was a bad move by LIV, yeah everyone roots for the guy but his chances were nil, and LIV is supposed to be the best of the best, not a good look for them. Yeah they got some views for AK but it was so short lived that I don't see how it was worth it.

[billyspan]

6 hours ago, MK7Golf21 said:

 

he was set for life with the money he made while on the pga tour years ago. Problems aside, he was better off financially than most of the US. Not sure about no connections but with the pga tour money he could have been investing and making $$$. 

 

 

He made more money than 99.49% of Americans...

 

Yes, better off than most. 😉

[PedronNiall]

7 hours ago, MK7Golf21 said:

 

he was set for life with the money he made while on the pga tour years ago. Problems aside, he was better off financially than most of the US. Not sure about no connections but with the pga tour money he could have been investing and making $$$. 

 

 

 

Pretty sure the addiction managed to kill off the Tour money. If he'd done anything with that and not blown it I'm doubtful he would have returned to join this sideshow. 

[NetBogey]

AK vs. Erik Anders Lang match in Miami. Anyone know who AK’s caddy is? 
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gtLnlO2C10?si=UNXI-9m69IHPn2_c

 

 

[mosesgolf]

"5 iron chip" from 200 yards.  His game looks pretty good.  Just needs more reps.

[iBanesto]

20 hours ago, Hawkeye77 said:

 

He is there on some sort of special invite basis so that may not apply to him - they haven't really said what is deal is, or what any "performance" goals are.

 

I'd be very surprised if he survives one day beyond whatever allows LIV to call it quits.

 

It is ironic LIV can invite anyone to play if they want and by letting Kim play in several events, it doesn't give LIV any legitimacy as a tour.

 

Yes I know the PGA Tour/European Tour have in the past given invites to dubious players but that is usually the one off event rather than several events in a row.

 

 

[dcmidnight]

6 hours ago, mosesgolf said:

"5 iron chip" from 200 yards.  His game looks pretty good.  Just needs more reps.

 

I agree his game looks fine. But theres a MILE long gap between fine/pretty good and tour/tournament ready. Is LIV just going to let him lounge around out there because he's a feelgood story to a few folks?

 

And do people think he just needs more reps? Honestly? He's 25-30 shots off the lead after three rounds of golf, thats not something you find after beating a few more range balls.

[MK7Golf21]

10 hours ago, PedronNiall said:

 

Pretty sure the addiction managed to kill off the Tour money. If he'd done anything with that and not blown it I'm doubtful he would have returned to join this sideshow. 

did you see his house and cars he was driving in his LIV interview? He had an insurance policy as well that was paying out, he even admitted to paying well into the 6 figures for it back when he was a star on her tour. I don’t doubt he was starting to bleed money though living a high roller lifestyle, hence LIV. 

[One Putter]

3 hours ago, dcmidnight said:

 

I agree his game looks fine. But theres a MILE long gap between fine/pretty good and tour/tournament ready. Is LIV just going to let him lounge around out there because he's a feelgood story to a few folks?

 

And do people think he just needs more reps? Honestly? He's 25-30 shots off the lead after three rounds of golf, thats not something you find after beating a few more range balls.

He should have just started a YouTube channel. Could have made good money with less work and no shill aspect.

[bscinstnct]

5 hours ago, iBanesto said:

 

It is ironic LIV can invite anyone to play if they want and by letting Kim play in several events, it doesn't give LIV any legitimacy as a tour.

 

Yes I know the PGA Tour/European Tour have in the past given invites to dubious players but that is usually the one off event rather than several events in a row.

 

 

 

AK, per this thread, seems to be the only LIV player that garners the most and sustained interest from golf fans ; )