On top of the world

By Chris Lang
Sports writer
Published: July 6, 2008

BETHESDA, Md. — Anthony Kim wore a knowing smile as he walked up the 16th fairway at Congressional Country Club. His approach shot was nestled less than five feet from the cup, and an adoring crowd on an overcast Sunday gave Kim a raucous ovation.

The smile was subtle, almost sheepish and cocky at the same time, if that’s possible. He had the look of a man who had the golf world in the palm of his hands. At 23 years old and with professional golf’s best player on the shelf for up to nine months, there’s no reason to blame Kim for having those thoughts. After soaking in the moment, he rolled in his birdie, pumped his fist twice and waved to the crowd.

Kim fired a 5-under 65 Sunday and claimed the AT&T National by two strokes over Fredrik Jacobson, finishing with a four-day total of 268. Kim joined Phil Mickelson, Kenny Perry and absent AT&T host Tiger Woods as the Tour’s only multiple winners in 2008. More importantly, Kim had the look of a man who gets it.

That wasn’t the case in 2007, a rookie year filled with promise and regret for the former University of Oklahoma standout. First the promise: Four top-10 finishes, including a tie for third at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. He ranked 12th on the Tour in driving distance (302 yards per drive) and shot a career-low 63 at the Colonial.

Then the regret: Nights of partying and a blatant disregard for preparation left much of Kim’s promise unfulfilled. Finished outside the top 20 began to pile up, which isn’t surprising considering how much Kim’s work ethic had slipped.

At during the second round of the BMW Championships, the third event in the four-week FedEx Cup playoffs, Kim had an encounter with Woods. He was scheduled to play in the group behind the world’s No. 1 player, and Kim realized that by the time he had gotten to the course, Woods had already put in several hours of work on the practice range. Kim, meanwhile, hadn’t yet seen his locker or changed into his golf shoes. He reached the course in just enough time to scarf down a breakfast burrito before starting his round.

Kim took 52nd that week, and the result spurred a change in lifestyle. Gone were the long nights of drinking that led to fuzzy mornings and poor rounds of golf. Instead, Kim began to hold himself more accountable for his actions.

“Just that feeling of getting kicked in the face every week woke me up,” Kim said. “If you haven’t seen the golf course and are not playing practice rounds, you’re asking to get beat. I told myself I’m not going to put myself in that position any more.

“My preparation and work ethic couldn‘t have gotten any worse.”

Kim’s change of attitude has been reflected in his 2008 results. He has four top 10s and two victories and has moved to fifth in the FedEx Cup standings and the money list. He’s a near lock for a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team and will play in his first British Open in two weeks at Royal Birkdale.

“He‘s got all of the shots and he was very aggressive,” said Dean Wilson, one of Kim‘s playing partners Sunday. He shot a 3-under 67 to finish in a tie for third at 9 under. “It was just fun to watch.”

Kim had to charge from behind to take home the heavy AT&T National trophy. He began the day three strokes behind 54-hole leader Tom Pernice, Jr., who struggled to a 2-over 72 and finished in a tie for ninth. Kim sunk a putt from just inside 10 feet for birdie on the first hole and added birdies on Nos. 7 and 9 to make the turn at 10 under. Once he drained a 16-footer on the par-3 10th for birdie, he was in the lead for good.

Jacobson, a 33-year-old Swede, made it interesting with a birdie on the par-4 17th. But Kim knew heading to the 18th tee that he had a two-stroke lead and elected to play it safe and go for par. He hit a driver into the fairway, an approach to 28 feet and finished with a routine two-putt par to secure the victory.

Woods grew up admiring Jack Nicklaus and as soon as he turned pro, he began to hunt down Nicklaus’ myriad PGA Tour records. Kim was a 10-year-old in California once Woods began his run on the PGA Tour, and he represents a younger generation of player who gleaned his appreciation of the game by watching Woods play.

As he accepted the trophy on the 18th green Sunday, Kim was pulled aside to take a phone call from Woods, who is at home in Florida recuperating from reconstructive knee surgery.

“I get chills down my back when I think about it, because I grew up idolizing him,” Kim said. “He’s the Michael Jordan of golf, and to come out 10 years after him and have this opportunity to play in his golf tournament, and be on the PGA Tour and live my dream is truly a wonderful feeling.”

With each strong performance, a question becomes more pressing in regards to Kim: Does he have the mental makeup to be “the guy,” the rival the golf world has sought for Woods for so many years? “The guy” has been sort of a revolving door of players, including Mickelson and Ernie Els, Vijay Singh and Adam Scott, even Rocco Mediate, at least for one special Monday at Torrey Pines.

Kim is understandably hesistant to answer that question. He’s only participated in three majors, his best finish a tie for 20th at last year’s U.S. Open.

“Well, I’ve got to win about 13 more majors to worry him in any respect,” Kim said. “I haven’t done enough to say I’m the guy. I’d like to think that I can work my way into that position. But right now, I still have a ways to go.”

The lack of hubris from a player who once thought he was good enough to just step on Tour and win is refreshing. Armed now with a new sense of purpose, there’s no telling where Kim’s talent can take him.

“I wasn’t doing myself justice to act that way,” Kim said. “I just took a step back and said, if I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it the right way.

“I’ve been doing it ever since.”