Anthony Kim: A year-and-a-half ago, I didn’t know how much longer I had to live

Anthony Kim’s return to the golf scene after a 12-year hiatus has sparked excitement among golf fans. Kim was a promising golfer, ready to build a great career. Injuries stood in the way of his success, preventing Kim from reaching his full potential. Alongside injuries, Kim openly spoke about and confirmed he had mental health issues. 

The 38-year-old American golfer, despite it all, decided to return to golf, hoping to make great things in the golf scene once again. In a media interview this time around, he decided to go a step further and reveal more details from his life during the break he had. Kim confirmed in an interview with The Age that he had a fear of waking up because he had to face his problems.

“When I was at a low point in my life, I was scared I would wake up in the morning because of all the things I would have to deal with,” Kim told The Age. 

“A year-and-a-half ago, I didn’t know how much longer I had to live.”

This brilliant golfer is now part of LIV Golf, and he will have the opportunity to once again showcase his best and convince the world of the qualities he possesses. Kim is now in a significantly better mental state. The fact is, during his break period, he worked a lot on himself, striving to improve his life, and it can be said that he succeeded in doing so. 

He is happy with the emotional state he is in. His biggest fear now is not waking up in the morning. The best move he could have made was to talk to a mental health professional. Although Kim mostly hid his emotions and didn’t particularly show them, he realized that without the support of his loved ones, he would hardly be able to make such a move in life.

“Now the biggest fear I have is not waking up in the morning, not being able to love and support my family,” he continued.

“A lot of amazing people have pushed me to talk to other people and talk to professionals. At one point, I had to be away from my family for a while and get help.

That was a low point in my life. I’ve never been one to talk about anything emotional, but a lot of people were there for me – people I didn’t expect to be there.”

Kim expressed his newfound enjoyment and passion for golf, stressing that he is beginning to appreciate the game more deeply than before. When you return to your greatest passion after so many years, you are fully prepared to give your best and get back on the winning track. Kim certainly feels like a winner, considering he found himself in what seemed like an unsolvable situation but managed to overcome it. However, there is no such thing as an unsolvable situation, as best demonstrated by his example. Consulting with an expert is the best move for anyone facing similar issues.

He reflected on the difference between his current approach to golf and his previous career, stressing that in the past, he focused too much on proving himself to others rather than prioritizing self-care. Kim realized at a certain stage in his life that he needed to dedicate more time to himself and his progress rather than to others.

Kim admitted that he used to rely on external validation for his self-worth, rather than evaluating his own feelings and values. That was one of the first mistakes he made.

Furthermore, he shared his hope to confront and manage his personal struggles on a daily basis, acknowledging that in the past, he did not handle them well and resorted to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Talking to a specialist helped him understand the best methods for solving his problems and what was necessary to progress and build a great career.

Anthony Kim and his conversation with Greg Norman

Kim emphasized that he is still a person eager and hungry for success in the golf scene. He intends to win in the future, and the mere fact that he returned to golf speaks volumes about that. His arrival at LIV Golf surprised many, especially considering his long absence. However, before signing with LIV Golf, Kim had a conversation with CEO Greg Norman and confirmed that his intention is not just to pass through this Tour, but to be someone ready to achieve great things. 

Greg Norman© Jamie Squire/Getty Images Sport

Norman, as an experienced figure in the world of golf, realized that Kim is serious about his intentions and understood that Kim possesses both human and playing qualities. The 38-year-old golfer is aware that expecting immediate results is unrealistic. It will take some time for him to return to form and compete for the top spot.