A Triumphant Return and a Great Day for Golf: Anthony Kim and Collin Morikawa Shine.

By Brian Smith

Anthony Kim (AK), sixteen years removed from his last victory at the Houston Open in 2010, returned to the winners circle marking one of the most important days in golf this century.  Not to be outshined was Collin Morikawa who birdied the last hole in heavy winds at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.  

Anthony Kim was once one of the PGA Tour’s brightest rising stars, winning three times on the PGA tour before the age of 25 and playing integral roles in the United States’ 2008 Ryder Cup and 2009 Presidents Cup victories.  His energy and passion for the game made him a favorite amongst fans who hadn't seen a player with that type of energy since a young Tiger Woods said, “hello world,” in August of 1996.  Injuries, an insurance policy and substance abuse effectively ended AK’s career, until the 2024 golf season where he joined the LIV Golf League.  His early LIV Golf appearances were marked by inconsistent ball striking, as he struggled to regain the sharpness, confidence, and competitive rhythm that had defined his game before his extended absence from professional golf.  

Anthony Kim celebrates his victory at the LIV Golf Adelaide event on February 15, 2024.

AK’s victory today at the Adelaide LIV event marks an important moment in the annals of golf history as it was the most significant moment in LIV golf's very brief history.  This remarkable comeback story of a talented golfer who overcame personal trials to be a champion once more, holding off the likes of Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton and Cam Smith, is a testament to perseverance through adversity.  His 9-under par 63 on Sunday, which included a clean scorecard, secured a comfortable three shot victory earning him four million dollars in prize money. This is only the second LIV golf event that has been a full, four round tournament, which awarded AK twenty three points, bringing his Official World Golf Ranking to 203.  Now that LIV plays a proper 72 hole tournament format, players have the opportunity to earn OWGR points this season.  It remains to be seen if LIV will rebrand the league to LXXII, but one could suspect the latter doesn't quite have the same appeal. 

On the PGA Tour, Collin Morikawa won the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, earning his first victory since the 2023 Zozo Championship.  Morikawa sealed the victory with a birdie on the 72nd hole.  Already a multiple major champion, Morikawa has established himself as one of the most accomplished players of his generation, proving that his early success was no fluke. His continued ability to contend and win against elite fields demonstrates a level of maturity, discipline, and sustained excellence. In an era of uncertainty and division within professional golf, Morikawa represents the future stability of the PGA Tour.  He's a player whose consistency, professionalism, and championship pedigree provide a foundation the tour can confidently build around for years to come. 

LIV Golf Outshines the PGA Tour.. For the First Time

For the first time since its inception, LIV Golf genuinely outshined the PGA Tour, not because of prize money or controversy, and not because Collin Morikawa’s victory wasn’t impressive in its own right, but because of something far more powerful: emotional resonance. Anthony Kim’s victory was not merely a competitive result, it was a deeply human story of redemption, perseverance, and fulfillment after more than a decade of struggle, injury, and absence. While Collin Morikawa’s victory was a testament to elite excellence and professionalism, it represented a continuation of an already-established narrative. AK’s win, by contrast, represented revival. It captured the imagination of fans who remembered his brilliance and had long wondered if they would ever see it again. LIV Golf, often defined by disruption and financial headlines, suddenly possessed something more meaningful: a story that transcended rivalry and reminded the golf world why fans fall in love with athletes in the first place. On this day, LIV Golf did not simply compete with the PGA Tour, it captured the emotional center of the sport.