The Golfer Who Walked Off the Course Mid-Tournament and Vanished for Years
A 26-year-old rising star, ranked among the best in the world, finished a single round at the Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina, withdrew the next day, and disappeared. Golf has seen its share of surprises, but few have left fans as puzzled as this one. Fans swapped theories on message boards, while journalists chased dead ends. Even players who once shared locker rooms with him had no idea where he went.
The player was Anthony Kim, a golfer once seen as the future of the sport. Twelve years later, he reemerged older, softer-spoken, and with a story few could have predicted.
A Star Who Played Like He Owned the Fairway
Anthony Kim walked onto the PGA Tour in 2006 with diamond belt buckles and fast hands. By 2008, he’d won twice and was the spark behind Team USA’s Ryder Cup victory that year. His short-game confidence bordered on cocky, but that was part of his appeal. Fans loved the show.
He looked destined for greatness. Kim reached world No. 6, racked up $12 million in prize money, and tied a Masters record with 11 birdies in a single round. Even Tiger Woods took notice, calling him a one-of-a-kind talent. Then his body started breaking down. Shoulder surgeries, wrist problems, and finally a torn Achilles made each season harder than the last.
In May 2012, at the Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina, Kim played one round and withdrew. The official line said “Achilles injury.” But this wasn’t another break between tournaments; it was the end of his PGA Tour career.
The Disappearance Became a Mystery
After that tournament, Kim vanished. Reporters couldn’t reach him, sponsors stayed quiet, and golf fans were left to piece together rumors. Some said he was traveling the world. Others claimed he’d quit for good. Then came the real twist.
In 2014, reports surfaced that Kim held a career-ending insurance policy valued at over $10 million. If he ever played another professional event, the payout would be void. It suddenly made sense why he’d stayed away. He was still under contract with Nike, living comfortably in Dallas, and seen occasionally by friends who said he was keeping a low profile. But for a player who had once chased trophies, it felt strange to see him walk away at his peak.
No one knew then that the money wasn’t the full story.
Pain, Addiction, and the Fight to Stay Alive
When Kim finally reappeared in 2024 through LIV Golf, the mystery started to unravel. He revealed that his exit from golf was about survival. After multiple surgeries and years of mental strain, he had fallen into addiction and depression. Doctors told him his body was shutting down. He needed help, and fast.
In early 2025, Kim marked two years of sobriety with a raw post on social media. He admitted that for nearly 20 years, he had used alcohol and drugs to numb the pain. Even during major tournaments, he was struggling in secret. “It’s hard playing majors while making porta-potty stops every few holes,” he wrote. He said he reached a point where he could barely walk into rehab without assistance. What saved him, he shared, was his family. His wife Emily, their young daughter Bella, and a handful of close friends refused to give up on him.
A Return That Felt Almost Impossible
After more than a decade away, Kim’s comeback began with LIV Golf’s event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in early 2024. Greg Norman, the tour’s commissioner, called his return a “rebirth.” Kim arrived in baggy pants, Vans sneakers, and a shirt that read “girl dad.” On his ball, he’d drawn a heart around the letter “B” for Bella.
His scores weren’t spectacular. He finished near the bottom of the field, but his presence was the real story. Kim said he no longer measured success by wins. “I used to base my self-worth on what people thought,” he said. “Now I just want to be a better husband, father, and person.”
He began competing regularly again, telling reporters he wanted to show others battling addiction that it’s never too late to start over. His motto, he said, was simple: “One percent better, one day at a time.”