LA Golfer Anthony Kim’s Sober Story: From Suicidal Thoughts for Two Decades To A Professional Comeback

A remarkable turn in the former PGA Tour golfer's career.

October 5, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on September 23, 2026

Anthony Kim, a 40-year-old, was once a promising golfer on the PGA Tour, having achieved a third-place finish at the 2010 U.S. Open and earned a spot on the 2008 Ryder Cup team. However, his potentially successful career was cut short due to substance abuse.

Due to injuries, including a severe Achilles tendon injury and personal struggles, he had to quit professional golf in 2012. He underwent several surgeries and also accepted a high payout after withdrawing from the Wells Fargo Championship.

During his time on the PGA tour and other tournaments, the L.A. native battled substance abuse, used drugs, and even had alcohol regularly to cope with personal pain.

The golfer also kept his addiction secret, even during major tournaments such as the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship.

This situation got worse for the former World No. 6 Golfer, as he even grappled with suicidal thoughts for almost two decades.

Anthony Kim Is Back As A Professional Golfer

After a twelve-year absence from the media, Anthony Kim proved that he still had something to play for by appearing in the LIV Golf.

Although he finished last in the field, 32 strokes behind the winner, Joaquín Niemann, he was glad to be back. He said, “I’m more encouraged after playing this tournament and playing like a**, really.”

For certain, Anthony’s return to professional golf was marked by challenges, and he failed to finish in the top 25 in any of the 23 LIV Golf events he participated in, earning zero points.

But, this is not the end of the world for Anthony, as the golf was just an excuse to avoid intoxication and alcohol problems, while following his passion at the same time. Now he has something to cheer and live for, his wife and daughter.

In February 2026, in an emotional Instagram Post, Anthony also opened up about the struggles he faced in the past and shared he has been sober for over two years. He wrote,

“2 years sober, biggest accomplishment of my life. I was barely physically able To walk into rehab needing assistance from my sober coach as my body was shutting down. Not long before this moment I contemplated ending my life everyday for almost Two decades even while playing PGA Tour, when I went the public seemed happy while struggling with addiction & mental illness. This post isn’t to tell every1 to get sober but for people who are letting addiction ruin their lives as I did that u can turn ur life around. Everyday I chose drugs & alcohol 2 numb the pain I felt no matter wat happened in my professional life & I got so good at hiding it that I lost who I was. It’s f-ckin hard playing majors making porta potty stops every few holes. With the support & encouragement during the rehab process of my daughter Bella my wife, Emily, and some amazing friends I decided to give my life one last shot. In rehab I found faith, self love& respect & purpose. I am not proud of who I was but I am today. One of the many things I realized is how grateful we all need to do before what we have now & to spend time with real friends because tomorrow is not guaranteed. I promised myself when I was in the ER for six days that I would do everything I could to make a difference to show my daughter that it’s never too late to keep trying. I am currently working on a few things that I know will change peoples lives including a website where I will be sharing both good & bad experiences that hopefully others struggling can learn from. I am so incredibly blessed four brand and gold partners that believe & support my purpose is bigger than just golf but about helping others. Also just as importantly I wanna thank everyone that supports me and my family. My journey is far from over some great golf is loading & my motto of 1% better one day at a time is how I am going to live for the rest of my life”.

Anthony’s story from being a Professional Golfer to being intoxicated and back to being a Professional again is not just a story, but a struggle he chose to hide for decades, even though he was in constant pain.

Luckily, the Golfer’s family, close friends, and organizations chose to stand firm during his recovery process.

Anthony, in most of his Instagram posts, also mentions how being sober has positively impacted his life and says he could have never gotten help without the support of his wife and child.

In Case You Didn’t Know

• Anthony Kim was born on June 19, 1985, in Los Angeles, California. He is married to Emily Stanley and has a three-year-old daughter.
• He has lost a spot in LIV roster and will compete next in the Asian Tour’s LIV Golf-backed International Series, starting with the Jakarta International Championship which is set to Begin on October 2, 2026.
• His best finish was a tie for 29th place at LIV Golf Miami in April 2026.

• Check other Articles on

Anish Koirala has loved sports since he was a kid. He grew up playing basketball and soccer, and that passion stayed with him over the years. Today, Anish works as a writer and editor, sharing his knowledge and love for the game through articles and stories. He uses his playing experience to make his writing clear, thoughtful, and fun to read.

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