Anthony Kim rises like a Phoenix to secure status on LIV Golf

Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, Florida, often feels like a sanctuary, but this past weekend, it served as a high-stakes arena for golfers chasing a professional rebirth. At the conclusion of the LIV Golf Promotions event, three men—Richard T. Lee, Bjorn Hellgren, and Anthony Kim—secured the coveted wild card spots for the 2026 LIV Golf League season. They will join International Series qualifiers Scott Vincent and Yosuke Asaji to round out the five wild card players competing across 13 regular-season tournaments, beginning this February in Riyadh.

The week belonged, in almost every sense, to Richard T. Lee. The 35-year-old Canadian produced a performance of metronomic consistency, carding rounds of 64, 66, 64, and 65 over the four-day gauntlet. Remarkably, Lee was a late entrant, only deciding to play on New Year’s Day, which meant he missed the window for a first-round exemption. He played all four rounds anyway, finishing the 36-hole weekend shootout at 11-under par, five shots clear of his nearest rival.Lee’s dominance was defined by his precision; he suffered only two bogeys the entire week. For a player who qualified for the U.S. Open at the age of 16, this promotion represents a significant elevation in his career trajectory.

Looking ahead to competing against the likes of Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, Lee noted that while the achievement had not quite sunk in, he recognises the need to sharpen his short game and find more distance to compete with the league’s heavy hitters.

While Lee led from the front, Sweden’s Bjorn Hellgren had to surge from behind. Starting Sunday outside the top ten, the 35-year-old knew a standard round would not suffice. He "went all in," matching the course record with a 6-under 64 that featured four birdies in his final six holes. Hellgren, a former teammate of Brooks Koepka at Florida State University, had previously asked his high-profile friends about joining the league, only to be told he needed to win first.

Having won the Saudi Open recently, Hellgren carried that momentum into Florida, securing a life-changing opportunity for his family and his young son, Ted.

The return of Kim

The most emotive story of the weekend, however, was the successful return of Anthony Kim. After returning from a 12-year hiatus in 2024, Kim faced relegation last season as he struggled to regain his competitive edge. His performance at Black Diamond Ranch suggested the "rust" is finally flaking away. Kim’s Sunday was defined by a gritty par save on the 14th hole, where he played an 8-iron from the edge of a bunker with a difficult stance to keep his momentum alive.

Kim’s perspective remains shaped by a brush with mortality; he revealed that three years ago, doctors told him he potentially had only two weeks to live. Consequently, earning his spot back through the grind of a promotions tournament carried immense weight. "I believe in myself more than anybody else," Kim remarked, reflecting on the "low moments" of his two-year comeback.

As these three men prepare for the season opener in Saudi Arabia, they do so with more than just a trophy. For Lee and Hellgren, it is a debut on a global stage; for Kim, it is a hard-earned second chance. In the quiet of the Florida evening, the reality of their achievement began to settle—a mixture of professional validation and the simple, profound blessing of being able to compete again.

Anthony Kim - Photo by Jason Butler/Getty Images