Golfer Anthony Kim Becomes Shareholder in Golf Fashion Brand Malbon
LIV golfer and Korean-American athlete Anthony Kim has become an investor and partner in American golf brand Malbon Golf.
On February 16, the 40-year-old Kim won the LIV Adelaide event, claiming his first professional title in 16 years. After the victory, he finalized a deal with Malbon Golf to wear the brand's apparel during non-LIV events, including practice rounds.
During his win in Adelaide, he wore FootJoy shoes and Malbon socks. Initially, his partnership model with Malbon was "cash plus equity", but after winning in Adelaide, Kim proactively proposed taking only equity.
Malbon Golf founder Stephen Malbon recalled: "He just won a tournament last week and took home a big check, then he said to me, 'I don't want cash, give me all equity'. So now, he's a partner in the company."
Malbon Golf was founded in 2017 by Stephen and Erica Malbon in California, USA. By blending golf tradition with fashion, music, art, and street culture, and leveraging collaborations with professional players and cross-brand partnerships, the brand has gained significant visibility.
In early 2025, Malbon CEO Aaron Heiser told shop-eat-surf-outdoor.com that the brand's annual revenue was approaching $100 million, with 35% of sales coming from international markets, especially Asia. Last September, Malbon Golf officially opened its China headquarters in Shenzhen Taizi Bay (image below) to expand into China and the Asia-Pacific market.
Related reading: Los Angeles Golf Brand Malbon Enters China, to Set Up Headquarters in Shenzhen
According to public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in October 2025, Malbon Golf received nearly $28 million in investment from two unnamed investors. This round is part of a larger equity financing plan aimed at raising a total of $43 million. Additionally, Malbon secured over $2 million in funding from one investor in 2023.
Related reading: Malbon Completes $28 Million Financing
Kim was away from competitive golf for 12 years due to Achilles tendon surgery, only making a full return to the LIV Golf League in 2024. Early in his PGA career, his then-agent introduced him to Stephen Malbon, but Kim was already signed with the Extracurricular brand, so no deal was reached.
At the end of 2025, Kim's contract with Extracurricular expired, and he resumed discussions with Malbon. Since he is currently not signed with any agency, the agreement was negotiated directly between him and his wife with Malbon. Upon finalizing the partnership, the two sides launched several co-branded apparel items, which sold out quickly.
｜Sources: Sports Business Journal, Forbes, Orange Bay Sports historical reports
｜Image sources: LIV Golf official Facebook, Malbon Golf official Facebook