Anthony Kim’s Adelaide Win Changes the Conversation—But Not the Math

I’ve been around this game long enough to know that one victory, no matter how impressive, doesn’t rewrite the script. And yet, I find myself genuinely moved by what Anthony Kim just accomplished in Adelaide.

Let me be clear about what happened: a 40-year-old man who hadn’t won a professional tournament since 2010 shot a final-round 63 against two of the world’s best players—Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau—and beat them both. That’s not luck. That’s not a fluke. That’s a golfer who still has serious game.

But here’s what strikes me after three and a half decades covering this tour: the distance between winning a 57-man LIV event and contending in a Major championship is vast in ways that pure talent can’t always bridge.

The Redemption Story Is Real, But Let’s Not Get Ahead of Ourselves

Look, I’m not here to diminish Kim’s achievement. Having caddied for Tom Lehman back in the ’90s, I saw firsthand how mental fortitude separates champions from also-rans. Kim’s comeback from addiction and a 12-year absence isn’t just a golf story—it’s a human story of the highest order. The work he’s done to get here deserves respect.

But there’s a difference between respecting the journey and expecting it to culminate in Major glory. As one of the Golf Monthly experts put it:

“A win for Kim in a 57-man event, and a top-10 at the Saudi International, doesn’t suddenly warrant a Major-contender tag.”

That’s not cynicism. That’s realism.

The Numbers Tell an Important Story

Kim currently sits around No. 203 in the world. Let’s talk about what he actually needs to do to get into the Majors this year:

• The Masters: Invitation only. He’d need to climb roughly 140 spots in the OWGR just to be in serious consideration. That’s not impossible, but it’s not “reasonable” either.
• PGA Championship: Top 100 gets you in, and Kim’s starting to approach that territory. This is his most realistic path.
• US Open & Open Championship: Both have qualifying routes that are actually achievable for someone at his current ranking.

In my experience, the PGA of America has always been open to compelling narratives—especially ones that drive television ratings. Phil Mickelson’s recent comments that Kim deserves exemptions into all four Majors will likely carry some weight in those corridors. The PGA Championship in particular seems like a no-brainer invitation.

“Kim in the field, making his first Major start since the 2011 PGA Championship, seems like a no-brainer to me. It would drive TV ratings and while some might call it a publicity stunt, it would be far from it.”

I’d agree with that assessment. But an invitation and actual contention are two different animals.

The Mental Architecture of Major Championship Golf

Here’s what casual fans don’t always appreciate: playing well at a LIV event, even brilliantly, is different from the pressure cooker of a Major. I’ve watched too many players—good ones—wilt when the stakes get to that level. The noise, the history, the weight of expectation.

Kim has shown remarkable mental toughness in his comeback. But that’s toughness in the context of personal redemption. Major championship pressure is a distinct beast. He’s been away from it since 2011. Fifteen years is a long time.

That said—and this matters—the experts aren’t entirely wrong to see a path forward. One of them noted:

“Every player is capable of winning a big-four championship with their best game alone. However, what makes winning a Major so difficult is the mental side of things.”

Kim’s mental game in Adelaide suggests he still has that capacity. The question is whether he can access it consistently, at age 40, while competing against Scheffler, McIlroy, and the rest of the current elite.

The Timeline Question

Here’s the part that keeps me up at night about Kim’s Major prospects: he’s running out of runway. Professional athletes at 40 are fighting Father Time in ways that are very real, regardless of how fit they are. Justin Rose has played exceptional golf into his mid-40s, and yes, Phil won at 51. But those are outliers, not the rule.

If Kim’s going to get a Major win, it needs to happen in the next three to five years maximum. That’s not cynicism—that’s physiology.

What This Really Means

So where do I land? Kim absolutely deserves a shot at the Majors. He’s earned it through his play and through the inspiration of his personal journey. Getting him into the PGA Championship seems wise for everyone involved.

But let’s separate the feel-good narrative from the competitive reality. One win in Adelaide, however dominant, doesn’t make him a Major contender. What it does make him is relevant again—and for a guy who spent 12 years away from professional golf fighting his demons, that’s already something remarkable.

If he can string together sustained results over the next few months, if he can prove this wasn’t just one magical week, then we can start having the Major conversation with real conviction. Until then, we should celebrate what he’s done without pretending the hard part is behind him.

In golf, as in life, redemption stories are compelling. But the ending hasn’t been written yet.