Anthony Kim contacted by Tiger Woods' ex-coach as LIV Golf star faces uncertain future

Tiger Woods walks down a fairway with his coach Hank Haney, during a practice round for the 91st PGA Championship golf tournament at the Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn., Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) (Image: ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Tiger Woods' former coach, Hank Haney, has reached out to Anthony Kim, the ex-PGA Tour star who recently made a surprising return to professional golf after a 12-year break.

Kim, who joined LIV Golf as a wildcard alongside Hudson Swafford, showed signs of rustiness in his game, falling short of the form that marked him as one of golf's most promising talents 15 years ago.

In 2024, he participated in 10 events on the breakaway league, with his best performance at LIV Greenbrier in August, where he finished 36th - the only time he managed to finish inside the top 40 of an event. Since the end of the LIV circuit in September, Kim's future remains uncertain, with it unclear whether he will return to the Saudi-funded series for 2025.

MACAU, CHINA - MARCH 14: Anthony Kim of the United States walks onto the 9th green during the first round of International Series Macau at Macau Golf and Country Club on March 14, 2024 in Macau, China. (Photo by Jason Butler/Getty Images) (Image: Getty Images)

As he is not tied to a team, he would need to be picked up by one of the 13 franchises or offered another wildcard spot.

Keen to keep his game sharp, Kim posted several swing videos on his X account earlier this week, which were shared by Haney, who had some encouraging words for the LIV star.

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Hank Haney took to Twitter with high praise for Anthony Kim's golf swing, as the ex-PGA Tour pro prepares for a comeback at the International Series event in Qatar. "This is a great golf swing, keep it up @AnthonyKim_Golf," Haney posted.

The tournament will see a host of stars including LIV Golf players and major champions like Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, as well as Patrick Reed and Order of Merit contenders John Catlin and Ben Campbell, who are eyeing a spot in the controversial league.

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Despite failing to make the cut at the Macao Open earlier this year, 39 year old Kim remains candid about his motivations for returning to the sport, prioritising family over trophies.

"I know that whether I make a 15 or whether I make a three, my daughter is still going to want to eat strawberry ice cream and I'm going to do that with her," he said in Miami.

"That's most fun part of my day. Golf, you know, through these experiences with my family, every experience I get to have, I appreciate that more, and it makes golf a lot more simple."