Following a top at the second hole and a shank at the fifth in the former world No. 6’s opening round, Greg Norman had no pity for Anthony Kim on his LIV Golf debut.
After going into golf exile at the start of the last decade due to a series of ailments, Kim is making his first competitive start in 12 years. Due to injuries, the 38-year-old was forced to withdraw from the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship, marking his third consecutive withdrawal, and he had not been back since.
That is, until this week, when the former Ryder Cup player decided to return to the professional ranks by accepting a wildcard invitation from the breakaway circuit to the Saudi Arabian event.
You could forgive Kim for having a little rust on his first tee after more than ten years away, but he showed no signs of it, stripping his tee shot down the center of the par-five 18th after the shotgun start. Unfortunately, the American’s next move was less than ideal as he made a bogey after topping his second attempt.
Dom Boulet, an on-course reporter, expressed disbelief at the mishap, saying, “[Kim] topped it apparently that is what Graeme McDowell told me.” Later on, it emerged that Kim was reportedly turned off by an overhead drone filming the action—something he had not previously encountered during his break from golf.
Norman, the CEO of LIV, asserted that Kim would have to adjust to it after deciding to stay for the entire 2024 season. Boulet said, “I spoke with Greg Norman.” “He claims that on his second shot, there was a drone overhead. Since he has never performed with a drone camera above his head, it may have turned him off. “He needs to get used to it,” he explains.
Following his first bogey, Kim steadied himself fast and holed his next four shots on the bounce. However, the 38-year-old’s rustiness soon returned after he stunned the commentary crew with a vicious shank on his second attempt at the par-five fifth.
There were many gasps before Boulet questioned, “Did he shank that?” Naturally, Kim subsequently made bogey, but he demonstrated his ability to recover by making his first birdie of the day on the very next hole. Nevertheless, he was unable to improve after that, finishing his first round of the LIV at six over par after five bogeys, which left him utterly last on the leaderboard.
However, just landing Kim will have been a success for LIV and Norman, as the 38-year-old will be the center of attention at this week’s event after a 12-year hiatus from the game. Earlier this week, the CEO welcomed Kim back to the sport and stated, “When I think of Anthony Kim, I can’t