His initials are studded around his belt buckle in diamonds. And Anthony Kim certainly knows how to sparkle.
Kim flashed his winning smile for the second time this season when he lifted the AT&T National, the tournament hosted by Tiger Woods, over the weekend.
The 23-year-old shot a closing round of five-under-par 65 to overturn a three-stroke overnight deficit and sweep to a two-shot victory over Fredrick Jacobson. Earlier this year, he won the Wachovia Championship.
Kim has certainly made his mark on the PGA Tour this season, winning at the Congressional in Bethesda to become the first American under 25 years old to win twice on the tour since … well, Tiger Woods himself.
Having left behind a partying lifestyle to pay more attention to the game, Kim is now being talked about as a potential challenger to Woods’ superiority.
Woods is recovering from major surgery on his knee and was not able to be present to watch Kim’s victory, which he achieved with a total of 12-under-par 268.
He now moves into sixth place in the United States Ryder Cup rankings and adds another $1 million to his bank account.
Kim, like so many others, was an awe-inspired youngster when Woods burst on to the scene in 1997. He said in an AP article that to win a tournament hosted by the world number one was a great honour.
Woods even fired in a phonecall to Kim, who said:
“I would watch everything he did, every move he made, when I was growing up. So to win his tournament is a true honour. I’m very excited. He told me to just keep working hard and keep it up, and the sky’s the limit, and there’s no reason to stop now.â€
Indeed, Woods as his inspiration was at the centre of almost anything Kim said in his post-tournament news conference.
He said watching Woods at the BMW Championship last season helped wean him off the wild lifestyle he previously had.
Kim said he turned up at the tournament with just enough time to practice a few putts while Woods, whose tee-off time was 11 minutes ahead of his, had been there for a while already preparing for his round. Woods won the tournament while Kim was a distant 22 strokes adrift.
“That was quite a low point in my golf career, to feel like I wasn’t doing myself justice to act that way and prepare that way. I just took a step back and said, ‘If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it the right way.’ And I’ve been doing it ever since.â€
Another young player seemingly on the brink of great things is 27-year-old Englishman Ross Fisher, who was in commanding form as he won the European Open by seven strokes.
He closed with a four-under-par 68 for a total of 20-under 268 and a comfortable triumph over Spain’s Sergio Garcia in the European Tour event.
Fisher opened the tournament with a course-record 63 and then watched Garcia respond the next day with 64. However, the Englishman shot under 70 in all four rounds to ensure he was always in the driver’s seat.
Garcia’s challenge ended on the third day with a 74 even though he finished the tournament by shooting 66.
Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell was third on 276, after closing with 73 while South African David Frost finished fourth one stroke further behind. Fisher said of his victory on the European Tour website:
“Just a great week. I felt really calm all day, very composed, comfy with my game. I got my fair share of luck as well – at the last I was just thinking, ‘Try and put it on the green’. I’m delighted.â€
On the LPGA Tour, Lee Seon-hwa birdied the last hole for a one-stroke victory over Jane Park and Lee Mee-na in the NW Arkansas Champinoship.
Lee finished with a four-under-par 68 for a 15-under total of 201. The tournament was shortened to three rounds because of bad weather.
