Updated 07:18 AM EDT, Thu, Mar 28, 2024

Anthony Kim Retired? PGA Tour Golf Player May Never Swing Again After Injury

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When Anthony Kim stopped playing since the May 2012 game injury, his no-show became one of the golf world's biggest mysteries-but there's a new lead. 

Kim reportedly availed of a $10-million insurance policy against a career-ending injury, Yahoo Sports said, explaining that if he returns to the PGA Tour "in any capacity," the measure would go void. The amount could be more, it said, citing Golf.com

Golf.com cited a close friend of Kim's, who leaked:

"It's significantly north of that. Not quite 20, but close. That is weighing on him, very much so ... The way he's phrased it to me is, 'If I take one swing on Tour, the policy is voided.'"

"AK's not injured ... He can play, he can walk. His swing looks good, the strike sounds solid, his ball flight is good," he also told the report, refuting reports that the golfer is still injured. 

Yahoo 7 Sports explained that if the golfer retired citing injury, he gets the multimillion payout without breaking a sweat.  

Kim, at 29, has virtually become elusive in the sport, as Golf.com noted that he has not participated in big league golf tourneys for more than 28 months now despite the great talent and skill he displayed when he came into the picture in 2008.

After a 2011 operation on his left thumb and tendinitis in his left wrist due to it, he struggled. He tore his left Achilles tendon in May 2012, had surgery after a month and went on a self-imposed exile, Golf.com noted. 

Since withdrawing from the Wells Fargo Championship and saying he was taking just five months off, he was nowhere on the Tour golf course, and even close friend Colt Knost is wondering where he is. 

"I don't even have a number for him anymore," he said, as quoted by the report. "People used to always say to me, 'Hey, Anthony was in here last night.' I haven't heard that in months. It's like he's hiding out."

Kim's inaugural year in the big leagues was 2007 and one year later, he defeated Sergio Garcia to help the US bag its sole Ryder Cup victory since 1999, Golf.com reported.

"His absence is definitely felt," one-time mentor Phil Mickelson told the report. "The AK of 2008 was so impressive... He had every shot, and he just kept coming, making birdie after birdie."

According to Golf Digest, the dillema was justified, explaining that the insurance policy could be more than the FedEx bonus.

According to Golf.com, Kim would have to earn some $35 million on and off the course to match the $20-million insurance, which would mean four to five good years. Those good years are iffy, it noted. 

If the athlete wants to sell the plot though, he has to be more careful. Still out on medical exemption, he should not allow people to talk about his great swings, Golf Digest noted. 

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