first time anthony kim After years of struggle, he felt ready to play professional golf again, but he never practiced at the driving range or with a coach. He was playing a casual round with his wife, Emily, using her club. Weeks after winning the LIV Golf Adelaide, he made sure part of that story was told.
Kim shared on his Instagram Story that a video of the moment of victory with his wife was posted by 4 Ace. While reposting it, he wrote, “I’m so proud of my wife @emilybstanley. There aren’t many people like her these days. I couldn’t have done this without her. She never asks for recognition, but she deserves it, so if you want to support me please share this post. I hope everyone can feel like ‘Emily’ themselves.”
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After retiring from professional golf in 2012, Kim battled addictions to drugs and alcohol and described his lowest point as a dark hole where ending his life felt like an option. Emily never walked away from a situation like that. And when she talked about those days, there were no words of comfort.
“None of us know the dark moments we went through or what it took to get out of the space we were in,” she said.
Emily’s role in AK’s comeback is important. Rather than pull Anthony Kim back into professional golf, she asked him to teach her how to play. The couple began playing casual rounds two to four times a week, and Kim said she began to believe she could compete again, using Emily’s clubs with pink grips. And she argued that returning to LIV Golf was a chance to support her family and set an example for Bella.
Former LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman credited her approach with giving Anthony Kim a “safe haven” in a game where there was once only pressure. The 40-year-old returned as a wildcard in 2024 and officially joined Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces GC as a full team member on February 12, 2026. And he tried to make the most of the opportunity.
Credit: Anthony Kim/Instagram
He shot a 9-under 63 in the final round, beating Jon Rahm by three strokes and winning $4 million in Adelaide. It was his first win in 5,795 days since the 2010 Shell Houston Open, after a 12-year absence from professional golf due to injury, a more than $10 million insurance policy that would be voided if he returned to the PGA Tour, and a personal battle with addiction.
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In an Instagram caption after her win, Kim wrote: “While people saw me finally making a few putts in Adelaide on Sunday, this was a win for the Kim family. To be alive and experience life with @emilybstanley and Bella is a true victory.”
Emily was on the 18th green when she won, celebrating with Bella. And for the first time, she let herself say something in public.
“All the feelings. You did it, Daddy. Wow. I’ll never get over this situation. It’s been several days and I’m still emotional and speechless. I never doubted you for a second. I always knew this would happen, it was just a matter of time. All your hard work, sacrifice, and dedication is paying off, and there’s no one who deserves this more than you.”
The win in Adelaide came on the same day Anthony Kim marked three years of sobriety. He once described his years away from golf as a “dark hole” where ending his life felt like the only option.
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Adelaide’s scoreboard told a story for golfers. But the big picture was always much more personal.
Beyond the Course: Anthony Kim and Emily Giving Back
In March 2026, while competing at LIV Golf Hong Kong, Kim announced that she and Emily would donate 1% of their winnings to mental health charities in every city where LIV Golf hosts events throughout the season.
Kim took to social media and asked his followers to suggest organizations that would benefit, making it a community effort from the beginning. This initiative began in Hong Kong. Anthony Kim’s choices show how far he has come as a person. He battled addiction and spoke openly about suicidal thoughts during his darkest moments.
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Emily, who has quietly supported Kim’s recovery and return to golf, says the initiative reflects their values. What started as one woman encouraging her husband to pick a club has grown beyond fairways.
