Anthony Kim, formerly a shining star on the PGA Tour was sometimes compared with the GOAT. He faded into the sidelines when he moved away from the sport to get surgery to repair an Achilles tendon injury in his left leg. He returned to the greens almost 12 years, and decided to do so with the Saudi-funded league.

In a revealing interview with David Feherty on LIV Golf +, Kim opened up about his addiction issues, multiple surgeries, and the toll they took on his life. The biggest takeaway for fans? Kim’s revelation of his multiple surgeries, with one that gives him an eerie connection to Tiger Woods.

Kim battled his issues in secret for over a decade, during which time speculation about his health and mental state persisted. “I had multiple, multiple surgeries in a few years and my body is still not what it used to be,” Kim revealed in the interview. “No, I had multiple shoulder surgeries, hand surgery, spinal fusion. Had a lot of injuries and a lot of surgeries,” said Kim.

Kim also opened up and admitted that it was only after Greg Norman approached him, he started hitting the balls again.  The exact year of LIV golfer’s spinal fusion surgery is unknown, but if there is anyone who knows how hard comeback can be after multiple operations is the 15x major champion, Tiger Woods.

Woods had spinal fusion surgery in 2017, which was crucial to relieve him off the debilitating pain from a degenerative disk in his lower spine. The crippling back pain threatened to destroy his illustrious career. The aforementioned procedure marked fourth back surgery that Woods underwent in mere 2 years. 2 years after his surgery, the golfer made a stellar comeback on the greens and stunned everyone with his 2019 Masters win.

There are more similarities between Woods and Kim than just their medical history. Both on and off the course, they were subject to extreme pressure and expectations.

In 2008, Woods hailed Kim very highly. “He’s the only player I’ve ever seen that actually plays pretty much the entire bag choked up. It does provide a lot of control; you don’t hit the ball as far offline. You hit the ball very straight that way,” said the GOAT about Kim during a Nike golf clinic. Before this happened, the LIV star also praised Woods and said that he wants to be “just like Woods” and “emulate him.” That happened, and he was said to be the next Tiger Woods.

The two golfers were also on Nike’s roster. Woods’s partnership with the brand earlier this year, and there is no exact date as to when Kim’s partnership with the brand ended, but it might have been during his indefinite break. The two golfers have also been through rough patches in their lives, but have come out of it stronger and more willing to shine on the greens. The two are held very highly in the golfing world and have a strong fan base.

Tiger Woods’ and Anthony Kim’s stories are two powerful examples of grit and perseverance. Kim’s transformation, sparked by his daughter’s birth and his family’s encouragement, represents a rebirth. Although he has had a rough start in LIV events, everyone will be waiting for his glorious days to return.

Anthony Kim, was he as Anthony When Kim decided to quit the game of golf without even saying goodbye, it crushed many people’s hearts. The “golf yeti” is about to return more than ten years later. However, it’s crucial to determine whether he lived up to expectations or if everything was overblown before getting carried away in the case of his unexpected return.As good as Tiger Woods? Examined: The Career of the Most Celebrated Cameo in Golf History.

Ultimately, the golf community nearly committed a sacrilege by comparing him to Tiger Woods at that same moment. Was he truly that good then? Given that Woods has returned from a protracted absence and is presently refining his game, and that Anthony Kim is deciding which golf camp to attend, it’s critical to determine whether or not the golf world is truly at a crossroads in this regard.

In the golf world, not many people receive the complement of being compared to the 82-time PGA Tour winner. Fortunately for the Asian American superstar, some even predicted he may unseat the dominant Tiger Woods and usurp his title as the world’s greatest golfer.

But whether you want to call it fate or just a matter of simple decision-making, Anthony Kim’s life did not turn out the way the golf fraternity had anticipated. However, it is inherently human to wonder: What if? And supposing it did succeed? Would Anthony Kim have become just as, if not more, of an influence than Tiger Woods?

If we were to take a broad look at their early years, we would see that Woods had two wins and five top-10 results in his first pro year of play (1996), whereas Kim had only finished second once in 2006, his first year of competition. While the former had only participated in two official events, the latter had participated in eight events during his debut year.

Although Kim’s rookie year was not as successful as Woods’, the timing worked in his favor. The personal issues that the Tiger of the Golf Jungle faced caused him to fall back a few steps during the years that Kim was moving up the ladder of achievement.

Rocky Hambric, a former agent of the University of Oklahoma alumnus, described his finesse by saying, “His talent was beyond anything I had ever seen before.” And yes, I am aware that this is heresy, yet Tiger Woods is included.

Not only did his agent see this, but Nike may have seen it too and signed him to a multimillion dollar contract. However, why? Ultimately, comparing their rookie seasons indicates that Kim’s was not as successful as Woods’s.

This is because a complete analysis of what happened next is necessary to get a just assessment of the options that the now 38-year-old might have had if the wrath of injuries hadn’t overcome him.

Anthony Kim established himself as a serious contender in 2008 with two victories and one runner-up finish, following five top-10 results in 2006 and 2007. He was already headed for golfing stardom, even though he was still in his early years as a professional—a story that Woods had sang about.

The gap between his first two victories was a just two months. Unlike Woods, who battled on one leg, Kim had a great 2008, with eight top-10 performances, $4.7 million in winnings from his triumphs, and a lot of fan recognition.

Kim was regarded as having become a seasoned operator by the time of his second year. He had three top-10 results and one runner-up finish in 2009. What came next was his lone victory at the Shell Houston Open in 2010, which also turned out to be his last. During the few years he was a working professional, he claimed three victories. Despite being in a downward spiral of injuries, the manner he played the greens showed that he was a formidable threat to his rivals.

Speaking of the awe that the public bestowed upon him following his Ryder Cup victory in 2008—that year of magic—Kim famously remarked, “I wouldn’t trade this for $10 million.” You would wonder why $10 million, though. That’s what his injury insurance would pay out, anyway.

The wounded projected Tiger Woods replacement eventually had to concede to his body’s demands and take an unnecessarily long leave of absence.

While time is still on his side, he is making progress toward his comeback, and it will be exciting to watch what he can accomplish in the upcoming years.