Anthony Kim sees big starts thanks to huge win (and rule changes)

Anthony Kim stunned the golf world this weekend with a monumental victory at the 2026 LIV Golf Adelaide event. It was seismic given the fact that Kim had struggled mightily on the course since his comeback began two years ago. And because it was his first victory in 16 years (Not to mention he beat Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau in the process).

But there’s at least one way Kim can take his shocking comeback to a whole other level: by competing in the major championships this year.

Surprisingly, Kim is currently in a position to qualify for two majors in 2026 (the US Open and the Open Championship), which would be his first major starts since 2011. Not only that, but he also has potential advancement opportunities to the other two (the Masters and the PGA Championship). And he has two new exemption criteria and one rule change to thank.

Here’s what you need to know.

Anthony Kim’s 2026 Masters qualifying status

The first and perhaps most important major of the year is the 2026 Masters, which takes place from April 9 to 12 at Augusta National. Kim recorded his best ever major finish (T3) at the 2010 Masters. He made his last appearance in 2011.

Kim’s path to his first Masters appearance in fifteen years may be the toughest of any major. Barring a surprise special invitation, the only way Kim can qualify for the 2026 Masters is by reaching the top 50 of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) before April 6.

Thanks to a major rule change made this year, Kim has a realistic chance of making this happen. Ahead of the 2026 LIV season, the OWGR officially recognized LIV Golf for the first time. Now the top-10 finishers in LIV events earn world ranking points.

That change benefited Kim a lot on Sunday. Thanks to his win in LIV Adelaide, Kim vaulted from 847th Unpleasant 203rd in the OWGR. He still has to make up 153 spots in April to earn tee times at the 2026 Masters.

With only three LIV tournaments remaining before the Masters, Kim will likely need one or two more wins to reach Augusta.

Anthony Kim’s qualifying status for the 2026 PGA Championship

Kim’s path to the PGA Championship in May at Aronimink, the second major of the year, also depends on the world rankings. The PGA Championship’s exemption criteria, based on world rankings, is not set in stone like the Masters, but tends to be more generous.

Traditionally, players who are ranked in the Top 100 of the OWGR prior to the tournament receive an invitation to play the PGA. That’s 50 fewer spots in the world rankings for Kim to climb, and he’ll have more time to make it happen than before the Masters.

Anthony Kim’s 2026 US Open qualifying status

As with the Masters and PGA Championship, Kim can earn a spot at the 2026 US Open in Shinnecock Hills via the world rankings.

The US Open awards spots to anyone ranked in the Top 60 by May 18 or the week before the tournament. Kim was able to earn a starting time this way.

But that’s not his only path to the tournament.

Last year, the USGA announced a new special exemption for the 2025 and 2026 US Opens for LIV players. For the 2026 event, “the top player who is not otherwise exempt and who is in the top 3 of the 2026 LIV Golf Individual Standings as of May 18, 2026” will be exempt from the tournament.

So Kim only needs to be in the Top 3 of this year’s LIV Individual Rankings to earn a spot at the US Open, as long as players above him are already exempt.

And it’s well within reach for AK. After his victory at LIV Adelaide, Kim is second in the LIV individual rankings, with only Rahm ahead of him.

In addition, “local exemptions” for the 36-hole final phase of US Open qualifying “will be awarded to the top 10 players of the final 2025 LIV Golf Individual Standings, as well as to the top 10 players of the 2026 Individual Standings as of April 6, 2026.” Kim was therefore able to earn a place in the qualifying tournament via the LIV rankings and play her way in.

Anthony Kim’s qualifying status for the 2026 Open Championship

When it comes to the 2026 Open at Royal Birkdale, Kim’s chances of qualifying are on par with the US Open.

The Open Championship will offer places for the top 50 of the OWGR from the end of May.

But the Open also offers an LIV-specific exemption for the 2026 event. According to the R&A, an open spot will be awarded to “the first player and anyone tied for that spot, not otherwise exempt, in the 2026 LIV Golf Individual Season Standings upon completion of LIV Golf Louisiana.”

As with the US Open, Kim is currently in a position to earn this Open exemption based on his No. 2 ranking in the LIV Individual Rankings. He will have to hold his position until the end of LIV Golf Louisiana on June 28 to make it to the Open in July.