Anthony Kim Earns LIV Golf Return At Promotions Event As Circuit Welcomes Two New Players

AT THE HALFWAY POINT

Nine holes remain at LIV Golf's Promotions event and, at the halfway stage, it's Richard T. Lee who holds a commanding lead at 10-under-par.

The Canadian is five clear of Anthony Kim in second, with the Thai pair of Sarit Suwannarut and Jazz Janewattananond currently sharing the third and final spot in Florida.

Only three players will earn their right to play on the LIV Golf League for 2026, so it's still all to play for over the final stages.

LEE IN CONTROL

At the start of the day, Canadian pro Richard T. Lee had a two-shot lead, and he's in no mood to let that slip. He's currently motoring along beneath overcast skies at 10 under, five clear of Anthony Kim. Jazz Janewattananond and Lucas Bjerregaard are locked in T3 with three cards up for grabs.

SHORT GAME MASTERCLASS FROM KIM

Anthony Kim is looking for a swift LIV Golf return after being relegated in 2025, and his short game is one of the biggest reasons he's looking good for a card. He's just dug himself out of a greenside bunker at the 10th, but he can only make a bogey and drops back to four under.

BJERREGAARD IN THE FRAME

Suddenly, there's a new name in the frame, with Danish DP World Tour winner Lucas Bjerregaard moving solo second on five under with his second successive birdie at the 11th. The longer this goes on, Lee apart, who is five shots clear, you'd think this will come down to who can hold their nerve with so much at stake.

THAI CONTENDERS

As well as Lee, Bjerregaard and Kim, two Thai players are also well set for a LIV Golf card in T3 - Sarit Suwannarut and Jazz Janewattananond. The former has two Asian Tour wins, the latter seven. Could they be swapping life on that circuit for rubbing shoulders with DeChambeau, Rahm et al from next month?

KIM'S COOKING

At the 11th, Anthony Kim bounces back from his bogey at the 10th with a beautifully judged longish birdie putt at the 11th. He's back to five under and tied for second with Lucas Bjerregaard.

BJORN IN THE MIX

Swede Bjorn Hellgren is the latest to thrust his way into contention. His birdie at the 14th placed him T4, just one behind where he needs to be to claim a card - or at least a playoff to contend for one.

Hellgren has one Asian Tour win to his name, the 2025 Saudi Open.

WOBBLE FROM BJERREGAARD

A bogey at the 12th for Bjerregaard, where nerves get the better of him with his putting, drops him back to T3 meaning Anthony Kim is now solo second at five under. Richard T. Lee is still in cruise control at the top on 10 under and looking like a near certainty for a card.

PLENTY AT STAKE

As this graphic from LIV Golf shows, it's not just the top three who stand to benefit from today's action. Anyone in the top 10 and ties at the close of play will gain an exemption to the 2026 International Series - and the chance of a LIV Golf career via its Order of Merit further down the line.

NOTHING SILLY FROM THE LEADER

Richard T. Lee continues unabated at the top. With a five-shot lead and seven to play, he knows just playing it safe will see his LIV Golf career open up, and at the 12th, he faces a long two-putt for birdie. He doesn't do anything daft, instead rolling it up to within a foot or so before settling for par. Just chalking the holes off now.

TROUBLE AT THE 13TH FOR KIM

In solo second and only needing a top-three finish, there's no immediate need for anything drastic from Anthony Kim, either, although he doesn't do himself any favors with his tee shot at the 13th, driving it way to the left and into some pinestraw, by the looks of it.

GOOD STUFF FROM KIM

After his trouble off the tee at the 13th, Anthony Kim shows his experience, finding the green with his recovery shot - albeit leaving a mammoth putt for birdie. He doesn't get there, but he should get away with par after leaving his putt within a foot or two - which he does.

SETBACK FOR BJERREGAARD

Lucas Bjerregaard finds trouble at the 14th in the form of a greenside bunker. He does well to dig it out, but it spins back and lands on the very edge of the green. That leaves a tricky par putt as he looks to stay in T3 at four under. It's a good putt, but it drifts narrowly right and he will slip back.

LIV AGAIN?

As well as Anthony Kim, two more ex LIV Golfers are making a run at a return to the League - former Ripper GC player Matt Jones and one-time Legion XIII star Kieran Vincent. Both are at three under in T4, just one shot back of Bjorn Hellgreen in the all-important third spot.

TOUGH BREAK FOR KIM

At the 14th, Kim finds himself standing in a bunker with his ball nestled just above it after another errant tee shot. This looks like a crucial moment for the American.

He's struggling to balance himself, but eventually gets it away with aplomb before stumbling back into the bunker, only to find his ball in a similar spot by a greenside bunker after hitting a rake. Talk about a bad break.

BRILLIANT PAR SAVE FROM KIM!

After his travails earlier on the 14th, Anthony Kim faces a sizeable par putt to retain his position in solo second. It's an absolute beauty!

Kim is doing this the hard way, but my goodness, he's a battler, and he's showing huge determination to resume his LIV Golf career. Just four holes stand between him and that becoming a reality.

HELLGREN HOLDS HIS NERVE

A timely birdie from Bjorn Hellgren at the 17th moves him to five under and level with Anthony Kim in second. As it stands, Richard T. Lee, Kim and Hellgren will take the LIV Golf cards.

As for former LIV Golfers Vincent and Jones, it looks like their runs have come a little too late. Vincent is at three under at the last hole, while Jones finishes on two under.

LEE MOTORS ON

Richard T. Lee's lead becomes six as he moves to 11 under with his fifth birdie of the day at the 15th. He can pretty much start making his travel plans for the opening LIV Golf event in Riyadh in February as he's surely not going to let it slip from here.

BRILLIANT FROM BJORN

Bjorn Hellgren is at the 18th green looking for a birdie to move to solo second. He makes it, letting out a celebratory cheer to head back to the clubhouse with one hand on a LIV Golf card!

That was some effort, as he went four under over his last six holes!

With Lee as good as there and Hellgren at six under, it's surely all down to whether Anthony Kim can hold off the challenges of the few in the chasing pack. He just needs to hold his nerve over the closing holes. Can he do it?

He's now two clear of fourth after a bogey from Suwannarut at the 16th.

BREATHING SPACE FOR KIM

Kim has breathing space to the tune of two shots in solo third, thanks to that slip-up from his Thai rival at the 16th. The American is further back at the same hole - a par 5 - and he's found the green in two. This is looking good. Let's see how he gets on...

KIM STAYS COOL

Kim has a long eagle putt at the 16th. Hole this and he's all-but back on LIV Golf. No pressure then!

The American is taking a long, hard look at this, as you would expect. He sends it on its way and it has good speed, but not direction. No matter, he cleans up for a birdie to move three clear of fourth with just two to play!

Meanwhile, Richard T. Lee continues doing Richard T. Lee things, knocking in his sixth birdie of the day to go 12 under.

KIM ON THE CUSP

Anthony Kim's two seasons with LIV Golf never quite caught fire, but you'd never think that from the way he's played here. Surely even his biggest supporters would have questioned whether he had it in him to finish in the top three at the start of the week, but with just two holes to play, he's tied for second, three clear of his nearest rivals.

Assuming he gets over the line, it'll be fascinating to see how he gets on in the 2026 season on the circuit, as this is as impressive as we've seen from him in many a year.

BJORN HELLGREN IS A LIV GOLFER!

With Bjorn Hellgren back in the clubhouse, it is now confirmed that he is mathematically certain of his LIV Golf card. It's looking like Anthony Kim and Richard T. Lee to join him. They're still out on the course.

ANTHONY KIM ONE HOLE FROM LIV GOLF RETURN!

At the 17th, Kim leaves a little work to do to make par, with a delicate chip onto the green proving a little too delicate. No disaster if he makes bogey with a three-shot cushion, but he won't want any doubts creeping in heading to the 18th.

Soon after, Richard T. Lee makes his first bogey in 43 holes, but that doesn't matter - he's still five clear.

Now back to Kim. Not for the first time today, he makes no mistake and he heads to the 18th three shots clear.

NERVY FROM KIM AT THE 18TH

Kim's tee shot at the par-4 18th finds the left side of the fairway, but after taking a good while to decide on his approach, he sends it wildly left!

It's in bounds but beyond some fans and a cart path. Still, a double bogey will see him home, so no drama, eh? We will soon find out...

ANTHONY KIM SECURES LIV GOLF RETURN!

Anthony Kim's wife, Emily, and daughter Bella are in attendance to witness his likely return to LIV Golf. His third from a difficult spot is OK and leaves him on a hill at the side of the green. With shots to play with, he will be fine with that, even if it's a messy way to end his round.

His fourth shot is lovely, leaving a tap-in for bogey and Anthony Kim is once again a LIV Golfer!

He's joined by Richard T. Lee, who finishes with a par to become the first Canadian to play for LIV Golf, and Sweden's Bjorn Hellgren.