Imagine returning to the spotlight after a 12-year hiatus, after being one of the highest-rated golfers. Needless to say, the expectations would be soaring, and the stakes would be higher than ever. Fans would be prying to question: Will the comeback be successful? Or will it die with the clout? For Anthony Kim, after his relegation from the Saudi-backed LIV golf, it looks like the latter. But his latest statements raise much bigger concerns.

The former LIV star admitted that he is not planning to quit golf anytime soon. Speaking at the Moutai Singapore Open, Kim shared, “This is something I am looking forward to and yes, regardless, I am going to play for a few more years.”

However, after finishing 55th for the 2025 season and falling to the ‘Drop Zone’ in the LIV league, the question is where. But what’s probably a bigger issue is whether this comeback is absolutely necessary after all. See, he’s 40 years old and hadn’t competed professionally for 12 years before returning in 2024.

Playing nearly two full seasons, Kim still struggled to make his mark on the circuit, earning zero points. His best finishes were modest—T25 at LIV Golf Dallas and T29 at LIV Golf Miami. Despite a wildcard status on LIV, it couldn’t protect Kim from relegation. Even outside LIV, at the Moutai Singapore Open, Kim finished with an underwhelming performance at T43. So the question is: Why is Kim continuing to compete?

The answer is simple, as Anthony Kim revealed: “I do not know how long I want to play golf for, but this is something I am committed to. I am motivated to play as good as I can, work as hard as I can, and the results will speak for themselves.”

Now, where exactly will he put this passion into practice? Kim already has a few things lined up. The former LIV star would definitely try to get back on the circuit through the LIV Golf Promotions event early next year. Yes, there are gateways to enter the LIV league now, too; one of the many tweaks the league has made to be more OWGR-friendly. Regardless of whether he receives one of the two cards, Kim has shared that he’ll be getting most of his starts in the Asian Tour’s International Series.

“I am going to play some events (on the International Series and Asian Tour), but it is a long way over here. So, as much as I want to compete, you know, part of my comeback to golf is being with my family. And it is a lot of trouble for the family, so we will pick some events to play,” Anthony Kim shared with Golf Digest.

As Kim shared, his schedule will be limited, owing to time and age constraints. Playing select events to keep himself in his groove without tiring himself out, Kim is already active in the International Series. The 2008 Ryder Cup star has made 3 cuts in his last 4 International Tour starts, though he is yet to break into the top-25.

As Anthony Kim continues to improve his game and bounce back from his relegation, let’s take a look at who else had to look out of the league this year.

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Relegation in the LIV league

Ever since LIV announced a more open circuit, the scene has been chaotic. Raising stakes over the season-ending performance in place of what was once purely contract-based, LIV stars are competing in nail-biting showdowns to keep their position. Regardless, 49th and lower get relegated, and some of the top names had to look out.

Sitting right at 49th is Henrik Stenson, who finished in the Drop Zone with a thin margin of 0.38. In fact, at the Indianapolis event, any finish of 20th or above would have locked his card. Unfortunately, he finished T22 in the last regular event of a disappointing 2025 season. The 2016 Open Champion’s best finish this year was a measly T12 in Adelaide, uncharacteristic of his talent.

Taking accountability for his failure, Stenson added, “I had the worst season out of the team, and I’m the one in the worst spot. You’ve just got to deal with it and move forward.”

Additionally, at 50th, Andy Ogletree is also looking to complete his term with LIV. Battling another highly disappointing season, like Stenson, a 20th or above was enough. But tied with Stenson, Ogletree had to pack his bags.

But the relegation was rather bittersweet for Mito Pereira. His team, Torque GC, won the Indianapolis event thanks to Pereira’s performance. But his individual standings at T36 couldn’t save his seat. However, showcasing his sportsman spirit, regardless of the relegation, he cheered his team.

“To be honest, I was rally happy for Sebastian [Munoz], really happy for Joaco, really happy for Carlos [Ortiz]. It’s never easy to play bad, but I tried. I gave my best and we move on. Hopefully I’ll have more opportunities in the future,” Pereira shared.

Yubin Jang (53rd), Frederik Kjettrup (57th), and Max Rotluff (59th) are among the other LIV stars who have ended their term this year. As the dust settles, LIV Golf’s new era of promotion and relegation has proven that no name is too big to fall.