Anthony Kim will be looking to continue his feel-good comeback story while Jon Rahm aims to go one better after his string of runner-up finishes when the HSBC LIV Golf Hong Kong tees off today at Fanling.
Momentum will be on Kim’s side after the 40-year-old American won the LIV Golf stop in Adelaide two weeks ago, his first victory since returning to professional golf following an absence of more than 12 years.
"It was nice to kind of set myself back into a place where golf and family is the most important thing, along with sobriety,” said Kim, whose struggles with addiction and mental health problems derailed what had once been a promising career.
"At the end of the day, my goals are to get one percent better every day … I’m still focused on getting better and trying to help this team as much as I can.”
By team he meant the 4Aces GC led by captain Dustin Johnson, who said it was “really special to watch” Kim succeed.
Rahm was also happy for Kim – even if that meant finishing second again after his runner-up finish to Australian Elvis Smylie in the season opener in Riyadh.
"Happy with my play so far,” Rahm said. “Winning is never easy, and I’m happy that I’m putting myself in position to possibly do so.”
Kim will tee off today with former British Open winner Cameron Smith and Joaquin Niemann while Rahm will play alongside Smylie and Dustin Johnson.
Other players to watch are last year’s winner Sergio Garcia, Bryson DeChambeau, Bubba Watson and Ian Poulter.
