KIM PINPOINTS UNFORCED ERRORS IN RETURN

For a player who has been retired for nearly 12 years, shooting a 6-over 76 in his first round back to competitive golf shouldn’t be a surprise. But Anthony Kim had higher expectations going into LIV Golf Jeddah.

“I would be lying to say that I didn't have certain expectations,” said Kim, who is playing as a Wild Card the rest of the season with no affiliation to any team. “At least even if I played bad, I thought I would shoot around par. It was unfortunate that I made so many unforced errors from the middle of the fairway. That's generally my strength is my iron game. To make so many unforced errors is really disappointing.”

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Kim found the fairway with his first tee shot, as he started his round at the par-5 18th with playing partners Graeme McDowell and Cameron Smith. 

Asked to describe his emotions in hitting that first shot, Kim called it “a feeling I hadn't felt before. I was very excited to go get it done. Fairway looked very narrow, so to be able to hit the fairway was nice. Got off to a good start, and then made an unforced error with my second shot. Just too many unforced errors.”

One of those unforced errors came on his second shot of the day. He found the fairway with his opening drive but topped his second shot, leading to a bogey. He followed with four consecutive pars before hitting a stretch of four bogeys sandwiched around his lone birdie.

But just getting back into competitive mode was a big step forward.

“Really played better than the score,” Kim said, “and I know I can clean that up pretty quickly. … I've got a lot to build on, and I'm looking forward to the next two days.”

As for his first week as a member of LIV Golf, Kim called the experience “amazing.” His wife Emily and their young daughter Bella have joined him this week.

“Obviously it puts a little damper on things when you don’t play well, but as far as the experience that we’ve had and the people that are here helping us, it’s been amazing,” he said. “Never felt anything like it, and I’m so excited to be a part of this. Look forward to being a part of this for a long time. …

“My daughter is having the best time, and that’s the most important thing.”