While the PGA Tour and LIV Golf have often stood on opposing sides, when it comes to talent, even a 15-time major champion like Tiger Woods did not hesitate to recognize and appreciate.

On Tuesday, at a pre-tournament press conference, Tiger Woods was asked about Anthony Kim’s win and their long-standing relationship. In response, he reflected on their past and shared his thoughts on Kim’s return.

“Yeah, this kid hit it so good," said the 50-year-old about Kim’s 2026 LIV Golf Adelaide win. 

Woods spoke about his past relationship with Kim and recalled competing against him during his early success. Reflecting on that period, Woods said, “He was on an unbelievable run when he won at Charlotte, and we played each other, against each other at Congressional.”

The Charlotte victory he mentioned refers to Kim’s first PGA Tour win at the 2008 Wachovia Championship at Quail Hollow. Kim won the tournament by five shots over Ben Curtis, which marked his first title on tour at age 22 during his second full season. 

Soon after, he added another win at the AT&T National, becoming the first American aged 25 or younger since Woods to win twice on the PGA Tour in the same year.

Later, the two competed in the final round of the same event at Congressional. Woods recorded a final-round 67 to secure his 68th PGA Tour win, while Kim finished with a 71 and placed third.

Reminiscing on Kim’s performance, Woods said, “He played unbelievable at the 2008 Ryder Cup. He had so much natural talent. He could hit any shot he wanted.”

At Valhalla, Kim competed as a rookie and delivered a performance that drew attention across the event. In particular, his singles match against Sergio Garcia stood out, as Kim gained control early and closed out the contest with a 5 and 4 result.

Other than his performance, Tiger Woods also spoke about the struggles Anthony Kim faced during his time away from golf and the effort it took for him to return.

Tiger Woods on Anthony Kim’s Struggles and Victory

Anthony Kim completed his comeback with a win at LIV Golf Adelaide on February 15, 2026. The victory marked his first professional title in nearly 16 years and followed a long absence from the sport.

Earlier in his career, Kim had established himself on the PGA Tour with three wins and a strong showing at the 2008 Ryder Cup. 

However, after the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship, he stepped away from competitive golf. During that period, he underwent multiple surgeries, including procedures on his Achilles tendon, hand, shoulder, and spine. 

Kim later shared that he dealt with substance addiction and mental health challenges, which kept him away from the game. 

Reports also indicated that a disability insurance policy played a role in delaying his return, as competing again could have affected its terms.

Looking at Kim’s return, Tiger Woods said,  “Then to see him struggle in life and didn't really want to play golf, didn't really want to be part of golf, and for him to come all the way back and for him to win and to be as devoted as he is to his family.”

Eventually, Kim returned to professional golf in March 2024 after joining LIV Golf as a wildcard entry. His initial results were limited, as he finished 56th in the 2024 standings and 55th in 2025, which affected his playing status. 

Still, he regained a full-time spot in January 2026 by finishing third at the LIV Golf Promotions event.

Woods added: “It's a story in which you just have to wrap your heart around it because of the struggles.”

What do you think of Anthony Kim's LIV Golf Adelaide win? Read more at Daily Club Golf!

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu