Anthony Kim had the golf world in his hands back in 2008.
He was the PGA Tour’s absolute, can’t miss, rising young star.
He won twice that year (Wachovia, AT&T) and got everyone’s attention on Paul Azinger’s victorious Ryder Cup Team when he trounced Sergio Garcia 5-and-4 in the singles matches.
The world was his oyster but somewhere along the way, Anthony Kim ran into Anthony Kim.
He hasn’t been seen or heard from for nearly three years until Associated Press golf writer Doug Ferguson tracked Kim down and got him to grant an interview. The story brings to light the rise and fall of Kim, it’s a story of squandered talent, multiple injuries and ongoing rumors of drugs, alchohol and hard-partying.
Kim is 30 years old now, living in Dallas and he calls his PGA Tour rise as “only a fond memory of mine.”
Kim admitted to Ferguson: “These rumors tainted my reputation and I didn’t have a great one to begin with.”
Kim’s departure from the tour was also hastened by a litany of injuries: torn achilles, rotator cuff, labrum problems, herniated disc and others.
He won more than $12 million in a short time and from the AP story, it appears he saved a lot of that. He’s also collecting monthly payments from an expensive injury insurance policy he purchased years ago.
The recent play of young stars like Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Jason Day and Rory McIlroy have Kim’s attention. But for now, he’s a simply a guy who used to be good.
Can Kim eventually make a comeback to the PGA Tour?
Only Kim knows the answer to that.
