The 4Aces GC started their 2026 campaign of LIV Golf with Miguel Tabuena playing as their fourth in Riyadh. But the truth was, they were still struggling to find a permanent squad member after Patrick Reed‘s departure. The season had already begun, and Dustin Johnson was a player short. That was until they offered Anthony Kim a contract to join their team.

Anthony Kim has signed a season-long deal to replace Patrick Reed on Dustin Johnson’s team, starting in Adelaide this week. Kim is playing the best golf of his comeback at the moment. He is re-qualified for LIV via the Promotions Event. This will be the first time he has been on a team since joining LIV Golf in 2024.

Kim had already made his debut for the season as a wild card player in Riyadh. He finished 22nd on the leaderboard, tied with Joaquin Niemann. That helped him secure his best-ever finish as an individual in LIV Golf. His previous best was a T25 finish in LIV Golf Dallas in June 2025.

“I’m excited,” Kim said at The Grange Golf Club. “This is a new chapter, and hopefully I can benefit the team. Super-excited about this opportunity. I want to be around these guys and am looking forward to the rest of the year.”

Johnson believes that the support Kim will now have as part of the 4Aces will accelerate his return to the type of golf displayed during his most successful stretch between 2008 and 2010, when he won four times.

“We’re super-excited to have AK join the team,” Johnson said. “Obviously, he’s trending in the right direction. When you take that long from the game, it takes a while to get it back. But I’ve played enough with him, and you can tell it’s still in there. He’s been working really hard, and I think he’s going to be a really good addition.”

General Manager Chris Rosaasen said the club looked at a variety of replacement options, but after arriving in Adelaide, Rosaasen and Johnson agreed that Kim was the player they wanted to pursue. They also met with Detry and Pieters to get their input. AK and Thomas Detry were paired in Riyadh, and the latter saw him up front and was really impressed with how he played. And Pieters has been a big fan of his.

Tabuena, who was playing for the 4Aces GC, finished at T48. He was tied with Tyrrell Hatton and RangeGoats GC captain, Bubba Watson. On the individual leaderboard, the temporary substitute is sitting in the Drop Zone in 49th position.

Despite the positive move, Johnson’s signing of Kim can be perceived as desperation.

Did Dustin Johnson & Co. run out of options before opting for Anthony Kim?

Sure, Anthony Kim delivered the best LIV Golf performance of his career. It was certainly better than their temporary player, Miguel Tabuena. But Dustin Johnson may have made a desperate move trying to look for a fourth to continue their 2026 campaign.

Kim had already joined the LIV Golf system as a wild-card player for the season. Moreover, Scott O’Neil had claimed that many PGA Tour pros were eager to join LIV Golf, so they shouldn’t have any problems bringing in talent. They did succeed in doing so with the likes of Thomas Detry and 2026 LIV Golf Riyadh champion Elvis Smylie. But Johnson’s struggle to get a new name to join the 4Aces GC reflects negatively on them.

One of the fans also pointed out an interesting perspective on X: “Great for AK, and well deserved. But let’s face it, this news is also that LIV couldn’t find/convince a ‘name’ replacement for Reed. And that’s despite OWGR points.”

LIV Golf has attained OWGR status after O’Neil made the claim. Despite that, the 4Aces GC captain wasn’t able to attract a new name outside their system. Was Anthony Kim really their first choice, or did Dustin Johnson not have any options when looking for a fourth member for the 2026 season?