Anthony Kim forced into LIV Golf decision after worrying USGA move

Anthony Kim says he attempted to regain his amateur status before returning to the professional game with LIV Golf after a 12-year absence.

Kim was once a superstar talent on the PGA Tour but became the sport's greatest mystery when he vanished from the scene in 2012 amid a series of injury problems. It seemed a comeback would never materialize, but aged 38 he signed a one-year contract with the breakaway circuit as a "wildcard".

When rumors of a comeback emanated last year, Kim says he was contacted by both LIV and the PGA Tour to discuss opportunities. But before that, the California native – a three-time PGA Tour winner and a member of the victorious 2008 Ryder Cup team – was intrigued by the possibility of returning to the amateur ranks in hope of qualifying for The Masters.

A request was made to the United States Golf Association (USGA), but Kim says it was declined. “I actually tried to get my amateur status back, or talked about getting my amateur status back, right before LIV and the PGA [Tour] called,” Kim told Bunkered.

"My wife was out golfing and I was sitting in the cart. I hit a good shot and she said, ‘How cool would it be if you played in The Masters again?’ The only way I thought I could do that was by competing at the US Amateur.

“I called my old agent but the USGA said no. That was something I thought would be pretty cool for my daughter to see. I definitely will be trying to qualify for some majors next and I’m looking forward to it.

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“I’m glad they did and I got this opportunity to play here on LIV, play with some of the best players in the world, and get to experience all these memories with my family.”

Kim has endured a chastening reintroduction to the rigors of professional golf, sitting bottom of LIV's standings with two events remaining before the expiry of his contract. Kim has played only eight of the 11 LIV events this season after joining for the third tournament of the year in Jeddah, but he has a best finish of tied-45th and has scored zero points.

Kim will need a big finish to the season to secure his place on LIV next year. He occupies a spot in the Drop Zone and faces being locked out of the league in 2025 unless he can produce some point-scoring results in the final two events of the campaign to climb the standings.

The penultimate tournament of the year begins at The Greenbrier on Friday, with the season finale being held at Bolingbrook Golf Club in Illinois next month