Kim sinks clutch putt to advance to Rd. 3 of LIV Golf Promotions

Anthony Kim stood on the 18th tee at Black Diamond Ranch, the pressure mounting under the late-afternoon Florida sun. After a roller-coaster Rd. 2, the former Ryder Cup star knew exactly what was at stake. He needed to birdie the tough finishing hole, secure his spot for the weekend's 36-hole shootout, and keep his quest for a spot on the 2026 LIV Golf roster alive.

The closing holes of what course architect Tom Fazio called the finest closing stretch he's ever designed (Nos. 16-18) had already tested Kim's resolve. He made a bogey on the brutal 240-yard par-3 17th, resulting in a situation where Kim needed a birdie to make the cut on the number at LIV Golf Promotions.

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After striping his tee shot down the middle, Kim delivered a clutch iron shot, leaving himself an 8-foot putt to keep his hopes alive. In a display of both skill and mental toughness, he sank the putt, keeping the dream alive for at least two more days.

"Today was a rough day," Kim said. "Didn't get off to a great start. But after I made bogey on 17, I knew I needed to make birdie on 18. Gave myself a chance and felt good over the putt, and fortunately it fell."

After the putt went down, Kim played it cool with a smirk and a wave to the crowd.

“I felt really good; I felt really calm," he said. "Whether it went in or not, I just wanted to give myself the best chance, go through my pre-shot routine. I've been putting in a lot of time ... I've been very focused, especially on my putting. It felt good to get over it and make one.”

Kim’s round included four birdies and three bogeys, mirroring the up-and-down trajectory of his comeback to professional golf.

“We can talk about roller coasters on the round today, but my life has been a pretty big roller coaster, so this is pretty smooth for me,” Kim said.

Although there was drama in the finish, the overall round for Kim served as evidence of how far he’s come over the past few years.

“I think six, seven months ago, that would have been a 76, 75," he said. "I probably would have gotten super aggressive on holes I didn't need to and maybe got a little aggressive on the putts coming in.”

The 40-year-old has shown incredible progress since the end of the 2025 LIV Golf season, including an impressive T5 finish at the PIF Saudi International in November, which was by far the best result of his professional golf return. Kim attributes much of that improvement to the mental side of the game.

“I think it's all part of the process," he said. "I've gotten better. I've started to hit different shots as opposed to just always firing at the flag. Just been more strategic in planning to play for the golf course as opposed to just firing at every flag, which I'm used to doing. But I'm 40 years old, feel 60, and I know that I don't overpower golf courses anymore, so I have to use my brain, or what's left of it, and just try to outsmart the course.”

Kim’s birdie on the 18th wasn’t just a clutch finish; it was a reminder that he still has the talent, determination and moxie to come out of LIV Golf Promotions with one of the three highly coveted Wild Card spots for 2026.

“Anything can happen in 36 holes," Kim said. "I also know that I can make a lot of birdies. I think I have as good a chance as anybody to make it through, and I'll get some good rest and I'll be ready for the weekend.”