Greg Norman issues brutal LIV Golf response after Anthony Kim's mortifying debut
Greg Norman had little sympathy for Anthony Kim on his LIV Golf debut, after the former world No. 6's opening round included a top at the second hole and a shank at the fifth.
Kim is making his first competitive start in 12 years, after entering golfing exile thanks to a string of injuries at the beginning of the last decade. The 38-year-old was forced to pull out of the 2012 Wells Fargo Championship - his third withdrawal in a row - due to injury, and had not been since.
That was until this week, after the former Ryder Cup star opted to make his comeback to pro golf by taking a wildcard invite from the breakaway circuit at this week's event in Saudi Arabia.
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After over a decade away you could excuse Kim for having a slight bit of rust on the first tee, but he did not show it, striping his tee shot down the middle of the par-five 18th following the shotgun start. What followed however was less than ideal, as the American topped his second effort right, before going on to make a bogey.
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The mishit left those on commentary duty in shock, with on course-reporter Dom Boulet claiming: "[Kim] topped it apparently that is what Graeme McDowell told me." It was later revealed that Kim was apparently put off by on overhead drone covering the action, something he had previously not experienced amid his hiatus away from golf.
Anthony Kim endured a tough start to life with LIV Golf (Getty Images)LIV CEO, Norman however claimed it was something Kim will need to get used to after committing to the rest of the 2024 season. "I spoke to Greg Norman," Boulet added. "He says there was a drone above him on his second shot, and he has never played with a drone camera above his head and that might have put him off. He says 'he's got to get used to it!'"
On the back of his opening bogey, Kim quickly steadied himself, parring his next four holes on the bounce. The rustiness soon kicked in once again though, after the 38-year-old hit a brutal shank with his second shot at the par-five fifth, once again taking the commentary team aback.
A whole host of gasps were heard before Boulet asked: "Did he shank that?" Kim unsurprisingly then made bogey, but went on to show his bounce back ability by picking up his first birdie of the day at the very next hole. He did however fail to kick on from there, as five bogeys followed to end his debut LIV round at six-over-par, leaving him dead-last on the leaderboard.
For LIV and Norman though, just acquiring the services of Kim will no doubt have been a success, with the 38-year-old drawing plenty of attention on this week's event following his 12-year spell away from golf. Welcoming Kim back to the sport earlier this week, the CEO said: "when I think of Anthony Kim, I can’t imagine a more perfect fit for what we’re trying to do.
"His talent is undeniable, and we are thrilled to welcome him back to professional golf with our league. It’s clear that he has the fire to win again and show why he was one of the most compelling players in the world, and we will support him on that mission as he works to earn his way back to the top of the game.”
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