The $10m question over Anthony Kim’s return: A star reborn or busted flush?

Anthony Kim plays again last week. On Monday, LIV chief executive Greg Norman trumpeted the dubious Second Coming as he hailed the American’s first competitive appearance since 2012.

Cue the collective eye roll, followed by excitement at what this breathless hype says about the broken state of the professional men’s game.

But before we jump in with the big announcements about how unfortunate it will be for the elite to watch a 38-year-old rule a dozen years on from his last contest, we should remember who Kim was and who he could to be still.

He may be re-emerging as a freak show this week, potentially taking a $10 million insurance gamble to re-enter the circus, but rest assured his return would be big news whether or not a separate series was funded by Saudi Arabia.

In fact, the myth of Anthony Kim has attracted so much interest over the last ten years that the promoter of the competition would be keen to have his publicity department present.

When he burst through the gates of those country clubs, Kim – or AK as he was soon known – was America’s ‘can’t miss kid’, the first in the country since Tiger Woods. At the time, there was no Dustin Johnson, or Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler or Justin Thomas, or, of course, the next generation led by Collin Morikawa.

When Kim played in the Texas Open in 2006, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh and Adam Scott were mostly seen by Woods’ formidable dominance. While a young Ulta by the name of Rory McIlroy was threatening to win, here was a 20-year-old with the skill and swagger to at least promise a bright future.

Kim finished second in that first start on the PGA Tour and two seasons later, he was in the top 10 in the world armed with the status of the first American under-25 to win twice in one year on Tour by Woods in 2000. He wore his big belt buckle, brash “AK” – the initials emblazoned in diamonds – and a reputation for wild parties off the course and a complete disregard for risk avoidance, he looked like a Pack A whole flag of his own. Even Phil the Thrill was mesmerized by his chutzpah.

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“The AK was so impressive,” Mickelson said Sports Illustrated. “He had guts. He was not afraid of anyone or anything. He had every shot, and he kept coming, making bird after bird.”

Both Sergio Garcia and Augusta National would testify. The former felt the full impact of AK in the best singles match at the 2008 Ryder Cup – the 5 & 4 turn set the tone for Team USA’s first win of the century. Six months later and the latter brought 11 birdies to the fearless gunslinger in Friday’s 65. Augusta had not before – or since – allowed more than 10 birdies in one round, but Kim did not play by the rules . Not even according to the strict rules of the Masters.

Yes, there were concerns about his exuberance boiling over into bad behavior – a personal memory is watching AK barge in Ian Poulter between holes at the Ryder Kentucky Cup when the LA firebrand wasn’t even playing in that session – but with the Tour produce so. there were many clones, even the alluring warts.

He entered the 2010 season, with Woods embroiled in a sex scandal and the succession was definitely in place. Third place in the Masters only emphasized his quality.

And then came the injuries. First a thumb problem, then a wrist complaint and after a ruptured Achilles here and a torn rotator cuff there, by 2012, after three straight withdrawals, that was it. No official announcement, no phasing out, no sign of “AK”. The weeks turned into months, the months into years.

By 2014 it was labeled ‘golf’s Yeti’. The great showman was the Abominable Snowman of his sport. Random sightings, strange stories, wacky theories and everything else … were blocking plaster casts of great seekers.

There would always be rumors of Kim’s imminent return. He was always “on the verge” of coming back, and he was about to come back beyond measure. But then came a report on Kim’s insurance policy and suddenly the legend had a plausible explanation.

Kim allegedly received $10 million for a career-ending injury, but if he was (or is) to keep the payment he would have to do just that – the terms of his policy claimed he can’t play professional golf. play again. Wake him up and he would have to repay the money and until the LIV tanks were rolled on the pristine fairways that fired off an inexhaustible fusillade of petro-dollars, an extraordinary amount of money that seemed.

And now? Well, the signing of Pat Perez for a fee from LIV was $10 million.

Are the Saudis paying off Kim’s debts and in these febrile golfing times where individual power has reached terrifying levels, is he banking on mining his famous cult reputation for every gem on those buckles? Is he fit? Can he be competitive again? After all, 38 is not old for a pro.

After more than 4,000 days of questions, golf believes it is overdue for answers, but so far LIV has been wise with its newest asset. Norman revealed Kim without mentioning her name, posting below the obligatory obscene promotional video that only dares to reveal her name, but is brave enough to park early for ‘redemption’.

Overboard? Of course. But inevitable. Golf’s focus will fall on the Royal Greens Country Club in the King Abdullah Economic City on Friday as the saga becomes even more surreal.