29-Year-Old Anthony Kim Considers Retiring From Golf For Nearly $20 Million Disability Settlement, Loves To Party

Ross Bolen10 years ago

Remember Anthony Kim? The Asian-American phenom that was supposed to be the future of U.S. golf? You haven’t seen him in over two years, because he hasn’t been playing. According to Sports Illustrated, he might retire at just 29 years old to collect over $20 million in disability.

The answer very well may lie in an insurance policy Kim has against a career-ending injury. An IMG source pegged its value at $10 million, tax-free. Kim’s friend, who has had financial discussions with him, says, “It’s significantly north of that. Not quite 20, but close. That is weighing on him, very much so. He’s trying to weigh the risk of coming back. The way he’s phrased it to me is, ‘If I take one swing on Tour, the policy is voided.'”

Talk about a tough fucking decision. On one hand, I want to call the guy a huge pussy for even considering hanging it up and living off disability like some kind of bum. On the other hand, $20 million is a shitload of money, the kind of money he might not think he has a realistic shot of making on Tour due to injuries. Professional golf is extremely mentally taxing and takes an absurd amount of dedication, regardless of how naturally blessed you are, and nagging health issues, which Kim has dealt with, make things all the more difficult (see: Tiger Woods).

He finished sixth on the money list in 2008, raking in $4.7 million, and is still signed to Nike, so clearly the ability is there. But Tony likes to party. I don’t mean “have a few beers at the bar and maybe rip a cigarette” party. I mean “order a $25,000 bottle of Dom in Vegas and then shower the dance floor with it” party. Yeah, he did that. $20 million can buy a lot of Dom to spray on a lot of titties.

Apparently Kim, who lives in Dallas, Texas, has spent the last two years bar-hopping and playing high-stakes card games, becoming an urban legend of rage. Rumors of emotional instability, drug abuse and rehab stints have been swirling as well, so things might be even more complicated than they appear on the extremely murky surface.

One night he is at his favorite bar in Dallas, So & So’s, sitting in the usual corner booth ordering bottles of Patron for a small entourage. Then he is in a penthouse at the Dallas Ritz-Carlton, playing a private, big-money card game. Next thing you know, he is on the range at the Madison Club in La Quinta, Calif., or hitting balls at TPC Craig Ranch outside Dallas. Then he is vacationing in Belize with a comely companion. Or beachcombing in Santa Barbara. Or at Costco in La Quinta with hair grown down to the middle of his back.

Being a professional golfer is cool and all, but if your only motivation is getting filthy rich so you can party your balls off with dimes, and someone offers you $20 million to retire, you’re going to consider it. He should get a fucking haircut though.

[via Sports Illustrated]

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