Anthony Kim's Vegas Spree No Different Than What I'd Do

by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 22, 2010 2:42 PM EDT in Golfiness

Much has been made of Anthony Kim's rather expensive hobby of spraying top dollar champagne all over Vegas dance floors. On Tuesday evening, Vegas-area jockey DJ Exodus tweeted that around 3am - so, really, Wednesday morning - that AK was an animal. He was such an animal that he blew through some 115 bottles of champagne and a $25K bottle of Dom Perignon. Total bill, according to Norm(!) Clarke: $80,000.

The evening prior's agenda? Gamble his face off with Phil Ivey at the Bellagio and be rambunctious. The Bellagio staff had to ask Kim to tone it down a bit. That's a classy joint, you know. It probably evened out whatever money took off of Ivey on the course - though an outstanding poker player, I could take a million off of Phil Ivey.

Back-to-back nights of enjoying Vegas as much as rich people who aren't in the public spotlight do ultimately led to him withdrawing from Justin Timberlake's event. He cited a thumb injury. I'd cite a hangover. IMG's Dave Haggith - a guy paid to handle these kinds of hiccups - said there was no correlation between the partying and the WD. There is also no correlation between Alex Rodriguez and post-season performance.

Chris DiMarco got in the event in his place, and was happy to be there.

"I'd like to thank Anthony Kim for either staying out too late or gambling too much - I don't know what it was - I'm glad I got in," DiMarco said.

DiMarco puts it all into perspective. It doesn't really matter why Anthony Kim withdrew. Short of committing a crime, it doesn't really matter what Anthony Kim did.

Had some golf fan of a dealer at Bellagio not recognized Kim, Norm Clarke never would have heard of his antics. The process of blowing wads of money and skipping out on the tournament never would have made it this far.

In some ways, it sounds a lot like Kim's Nike battery mate, Tiger Woods. Tiger made and is probably making regular trips to Vegas. He loves to gamble and in sizable amounts. The last year has shown Tiger had quite a secret life going for himself. It was only exposed when a car wreck/US Weekly 1-2 punch opened the flood gates. Up until then, Tiger was playing his own schedule, winning at an incredible pace, and still had time to fit in a myriad of activities similar to what AK is doing now.

Neither committed a crime - short of a $167 parking violation. Tiger lost his family with his wreckless behavior. Anthony Kim probably lost a girlfriend or two. The comparisons could continue but the stark contrast is that Woods was doing this all along and no one knew about it. Kim has not only not been shy about his behavior, but has boasted about it.

So why all of the moralizing?

It's probably because a few people feel burnt by Kim's prior proclamations that he was putting golf first. Maybe he still is. Or just got sidetracked.

The guy wanted to make the Ryder Cup team but had a ton of rust. The guy had a great year until the surgery - a win in Houston and a great charge on Sunday at Augusta. In three seasons, he has three wins. How many PGA Tour guys can say that? And he's done it while living it up? That's all the more impressive to me.

What seems lost on this topic is Kim's age. He's 25. The same thing he is experiencing is what rookies in the other pro sports have to face - a lot of money, near invincibility from the law, and heaping praise from all quarters. Sounds awesome, but it's tough for many guys to comprehend and remain grounded, even with just a pinky toe.

If I had that kind of cash and fame when I was 25 (just two and a half short years ago), I would've been on a money-burning rampage. I would've been in Vegas plenty. I would've entered European Tour events in exotic places just for the appearance fee. I'd own a jet.

With three wins on Tour, Anthony Kim is basically set for life thanks to the PGA Tour's amazing pension. He knows it. He's no idiot. The guy can live out his twenties and really enjoy it before getting down to business. And he doesn't have to be coy about it. Short of going all Sid and Nancy on us, Kim will be fine.

Making comparsions to John Daly are misguided and wrong. Kim is 25, wins regularly, and parties a lot. John Daly is 44, withdraws more than he finishes top twenty, and parties a lot. Let's keep that in mind before Kim is crowned the new bad boy of the PGA Tour.

Bottom line is that this only matters to anyone because it got out in the first place. I've been a part of some crazy nights in my life - everyone has. The only difference is that the volume of money moved and the staggering disregard for Dom Perignon are things us normals can't and don't do. To that, I implore Anthony Kim: next time, you mind if I tag along?

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Hold da bus, big fella...

…“He did all this while living it up” ? AK’s partying was never a secret – but until the point of the injury and eventual surgery, he had cut back on it quite a bit. He got his first two victories pretty much walking the straight and narrow…as much as could be expected from him. He has kept mostly to the shadows during his rehab…until this happened.

His win in Houston didn’t come “while living it up” – his nose had been to the grindstone getting his game back together. What amazes me is that he plays great and wins when he is focused on golf – and not so much when he’s on his party streaks…and he KNOWS it…he’s admitted as much. What the heck is keeping him from setting a solid schedule during the season, then leaving himself a month or two of party time, then get back to work for the next season ?

And that PGA Tour pension doesn’t have him “set for life” – not even close – unless he’s wanting to retire to little condo in Tampa for his final 50 years.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Oct 22, 2010 3:31 PM EDT reply actions

Guys that win young and then go on to decent careers are pretty much set from life in the position AK is in. The pension is that good.

Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroom, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.

by Ryan Ballengee on Oct 22, 2010 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I made the comparison with Daly

Because Daly won the PGA at 25…he then won the Open at 29..but not much else. And we all know why. John partied between those wins. got married a lot. The pair of them are impulsive in their nature. It’s logical comparisons will be made if they both like to get drunk out of their skulls. Nothing wrong with that. I did it myself. What you do Ryan and what Kim does means nothing. Age is the only thing you have in common. As for the claim he wins regularly, he won’t win anything if the bottle takes hold. Kim has time to go the right way…if he doesn’t, he will end up a fool just like Daly.

by Easingwold on Oct 22, 2010 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions

(Daly) partied between those wins ? he partied DURING those wins ! :-D

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Oct 22, 2010 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions

True :)

by Easingwold on Oct 23, 2010 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions

What the heck is keeping him from setting a solid schedule during the season, then leaving himself a month or two of party time, then get back to work for the next season ?
It appears he did that. I wondered why someone of Kim stature was playing in this tournament. My first thought was that he loved Vegas that much. According to an article, Kim is tight with the host of the tournament (I won’t mention his name; if you have a free 30 minutes, as me what I think of him. Team Janet!)

by TwoNuse on Oct 22, 2010 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Good point

if he was intending to get smashed, why enter the tournament ?

by Easingwold on Oct 22, 2010 4:45 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't believe he planned to get smashed

it just got away from him. Then when it became a thing in the newspapers and the blogs, he decided he didn’t want to answer making it rain questions for the whole weekend.

This is all, of course assuming the thumb isn’t bothering him.

by TwoNuse on Oct 22, 2010 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions

I hear you

but there is no smoke without fire. I remember the Ryder Cup two years ago. He bumped into Poulter on tee, the pair had words and that showed he is impulsive. Great talent, but he might get in his own way…like Daly did.

by Easingwold on Oct 22, 2010 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions

If gamesmanship at the Ryder Cup was a fault that showed a career in trouble

Seve would never have won a tournament.

by TwoNuse on Oct 22, 2010 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Seve won 5 majors and was the best player in the world

before Azinger crowned him the “king of gamesmanship”. Not a comparison at all, compared to Kim.

by Easingwold on Oct 22, 2010 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Just going by your earlier analogy

I don’t know why bumping into the hyper-sensitive Poulter is an example that Kim is throwing away his career either.

by TwoNuse on Oct 22, 2010 7:26 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Well, I was just highlighting what kind of person he might be..

the question is, is he a dedicated professional golfer, or someone who has to grow up who got rich too quick ? I suspect the latter.

by Easingwold on Oct 23, 2010 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions

AK did get his act together for a while. Two years ago at the Tour Championship he talked about how he had given up the party life to focus on his job – and it paid off. The next year, he was back to his old tricks and playing so-so golf getting nowhere near the winner’s circle. Then the injury.

His stature ? Is this tournament beneath him ? What does that say for Furyk and Mahan and Watney and Love III and Barnes and Appleby… ?

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Oct 22, 2010 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions

The tourney is beneath Furyk, Mahan and Watney as well

Not to say they shouldn’t play in it, but the Fall Series usually doesn’t see players who have won multiple times on tour recently.

Love III, Barnes and Appleby on the other hand are right where they belong.

by TwoNuse on Oct 22, 2010 7:20 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

what ??

“John Daly is 44, withdraws more than he finishes top twenty, and parties a lot.”

Not exactly a true statement. JD has been on the straight and narrow for quite a while now. Occasionaly like the rest of us he will have a beer or two with dinner and thats about it these days. The rest of your article I agree with.

"pain is only weakness leaving the body"

by progolf on Oct 22, 2010 5:05 PM EDT reply actions

Liie I said, I was comparing a young Daly to a young Kim.

by Easingwold on Oct 22, 2010 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Kim Basinger ? (woohoo !) :-)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Oct 22, 2010 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions

lol...

by Easingwold on Oct 23, 2010 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions

What about the sponsors

who sold their tournament on a marquee player? Never mind the Shriners Hospital. If it was the hangover that had him pull out and not the thumb, then he’s a little pratt who should grow up. Party time is Sunday night if you can’t hold your alcohol.

by chip n'putt on Oct 22, 2010 7:25 PM EDT reply actions

Gol Dang it C n P...even if yurn

still being coy with that Black Knight thing…I does haf ta agree with ya here. Someone said he was tight with Timberlake….If that’s the case, don’t ya think his buddy was counting on him to pull some slack in the event ? And how about those that bought tickets…all them little kiddies wantin to see AK…I can jist see the disappointment in them little faces….How could he be so cruel and heartless….If she has any a them pink balls left, I think Wendy should send him one….jist sayin….STUB

by thinker on Oct 22, 2010 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions

You’ll have to wait till Tuesday then huh?

by chip n'putt on Oct 22, 2010 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions

In my younger years, whenst I

was chasin the Lasses….If’ I rund up to someone as tough as you at the bar, I jist went on down the line….You does got a cruel streak….lol….I called a friend of mine who is a Professional gambler and laid this story on him…..He almost choked he laughed so hard….He made the observation that if Ivey was there, he sure wasn’t participating in the festivities….As I said in a previous post…you will NEVER and I mean NEVER see a professional act that way….My dad always said there 2 types of drunks….The OBNOXIOUS BELLIGERENT ONES and those that just sat in a corner and went to sleep…Take you pick on this one…And Ryan…If this is the way you would have done it, shame on you…thought you had more self control than that….STUB

by thinker on Oct 22, 2010 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Gee thanks Stub…. I think?

by chip n'putt on Oct 22, 2010 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I don't know which is worse, STUB

Your eyesight or your memory ;o Diane’s aeroplane was NOT red/white and the golf balls I won (for my husband) were YELLOW not pink.

by WendyUK on Oct 25, 2010 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed Chip...

If he was to play, he should have been there…act like a professional.

by Easingwold on Oct 23, 2010 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions

selling a tournament on Anthony Kim ?

Be serious.

If the thumb is still a problem, I don’t see anything wrong with pulling out of the tournament – but I’m with you guys – the guy knew he wasn’t up to playing in the Ryder Cup, he would’ve known that he wasn’t up to playing in Vegas. His behavior makes the WD look pretty suspicious, lame, and unprofessional.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Oct 23, 2010 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions

AK is a marquee player Court and the sponsors would have been touting his name to all and sundry to get bums on seats. He would have featured heavily in the advertising and the promotion in the weeks leading up to it in all of the media outlets. It’s not like they have a whole lot of stars in any tournament at this time of the year, so yes, they would have been counting on him to promote the event.

by chip n'putt on Oct 23, 2010 10:53 AM EDT reply actions

I see what you’re saying – AK could be considered a marquee player for this time of year. He’s a flash in the pan for the regular season right now (results-wise) – but still fairly popular. Sports is just so much “what have you done for me lately”. The John Daly’s of the world are few and far between – and AK never made a splash into the imagination of the public like Daly. AK’s going to have to earn his fan status.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Oct 23, 2010 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Now that I think about it a little more...

…I always pictured RB as a “make it rain” kind of guy – not a pop 115 bottle of bubbly guy. (lol)

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Oct 23, 2010 11:09 AM EDT reply actions

Court...that's something else

I sure would like to know the actual bottle count…115 bottles? give me a break….I suspect someone’s imigination got carried away……again, 115 bottles? because this is what he would do too, maybe Ryan was there counting…..jis sayin……STUB

by thinker on Oct 23, 2010 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Well – if the tab for the night was in the $80k range, and one bottle was $25k – that puts 115 bottles of “cheap” champagne at $478 apiece. (lol) I wonder what else got put on the tab to bring that price down a bit.

"this ball will fit in that fairway"

by courtgolf on Oct 23, 2010 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions