Home

Golf

Anthony Kim, the Disappeared Golf Star, Once Revealed How His ‘Straightforward’ Dad Made Him Pick Golf Over Basketball

Published 05/17/2022, 2:20 PM EDT

Follow Us

It’s been ten years since the PGA Tour professional, Anthony Kim, played in an official event. Yet, fans continue to remember him as he was one of the best of his time. However, did you know that it was not him, but a family member who chose golf as a profession for him?

As a high school student, Kim used to play basketball. However, he was in the 10th grade when he hurt his ankle. “I rolled it twice in the same week,” the golfer explained the situation in an interview with the PGA Tour in 2009. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

“My mom and dad told me to look in the mirror and see what I thought I could do as a profession,” he added. “And that was it. No more basketball after that.”  

Furthermore, Kim explained that his father is the reason he chose golf as a profession. “My dad was pretty straightforward,” he stated

When Did Tiger Woods Start Playing Golf?

“‘You are not going to make it to the (NBA),'” Anthony explained what his father said to him. “‘What you can do is play golf.'” His father’s statement made young Anthony pick golf over basketball. 

Why is Anthony Kim not playing on the PGA Tour now? 

Anthony Kim joined the PGA Tour in 2007 and bagged more than a million in his rookie year. The next year was even better as he won the Wachovia Championship with a 5-shot lead. Notably, his score was the lowest in the history of the tournament at the time. 

Another victory and a couple of top ten performances made him the World No. 6 in 2008, when he was just 23-years-old. Additionally, his heroics at the Ryder Cup the same year helped Team USA win the event for the 1st time since 1999. He also impressed everyone with his impressive play at the 2009 Presidents Cup. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest Golf stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Kim had to go through surgery on his left Achilles tendon in 2012, after which his career went downhill. And he hasn’t played on the Tour ever since.

Many thought that he stopped playing, as it would make him ineligible to claim his massive insurance policy against a career-ending injury. However, Kim denied these allegations in an interviewAccording to him, he receives insurance money for his career-ending injury. Nevertheless, it is not the reason he left the Tour.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Do you think Anthony Kim will ever return to play on the PGA Tour? Let us know in the comments section below!

Watch This Story: Paige Spiranac Reveals She Has the Driver Yips and Describes Latest Act of Outrage

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by:

Anjana Prabhakaran

1,189Articles

One take at a time

Anjana Prabhakaran is a Golf content writer at EssentiallySports. She has completed her Master's degree in Public Administration and considers researching as one of her hobbies. As her family is interested in sports, Anjana grew up watching every sport on television.
Show More>

Edited by:

Melroy Fernandes

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT