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Woods lurks as Kim sets course record

Source: Agencies | July 4, 2009, Saturday | Print Edition

ANTHONY Kim ran off eight birdies over his final 13 holes and set the course record with an 8-under 62 for a two-shot lead over AT&T National host Tiger Woods and two others in Maryland on Thursday.

The 24-year-old Kim has not won since his victory here at Congressional Country Club last year, as he was slowed by an assortment of injuries that caused his game to slip just as he was being anointed as the next great American player.

It was the best round of his US PGA Tour career, although Kim walked off the par-5 ninth green slightly perturbed after narrowly missing a 10-foot birdie putt. Apparently, eight birdies wasn't enough.

"You don't have many opportunities to bust a 61," Kim told reporters.

But it was enough to hold off Woods, who missed his tournament last year after having season-ending knee surgery.

Woods played in the afternoon with deceptive wind swirling from trees lining the fairways. He missed only two fairways and three greens, and made enough putts for a 64, his lowest round since the 2007 US Tour Championship.

"Today was nice to get back inside the ropes and get out there and try to catch AK," Woods said.

"He lit it up this morning."

Bryce Molder, who can qualify for the British Open with a strong week at Congressional, hit a 3-wood to 4 feet on the par-3 second hole and escaped trouble a few times on the back nine to join a group at 64 that also included D.A. Points.

Soft conditions

Former US PGA champion Steve Elkington was another shot back on a day of exceptional scoring in relatively soft conditions from overnight rain in the Washington area.

"You can be so aggressive out there," Woods said.

"You can fire at a lot of flags. The fairways got wide because it's not going to run out. If you get aggressive and get it going, you can post a number out there."

Three dozen players shots in the 60s, including Jim Furyk in the group at 66 and US Open champion Lucas Glover at 69. Nearly half the 120-man field was at par or better.

As a tournament host, Woods took some solace that 3-under 67 was still good enough to be in the top 10. As a player, he saw Kim at 62 before he teed off and realized he had better stay as close as he could. "This is the day to pull it off," he said, "because the greens are so soft."

Kim extended his bogey-free streak at Congressional to 40 holes, dating to the third round a year ago. He missed only one green, coming up just short on the 18th and chipping to about 3 feet. The longest par putt he faced all day was from 4 feet.

"Whenever you can make a bunch of birdies and not bogeys to follow it up, it's going to be a good day," Kim said. "And fortunately, I kept the ball in play for most of the day and finally got some putts to fall this year."

Even though it's the first week of July, it already feels like a long year to Kim. He has not finished in the top 10 since his runner-up finish in the season-opening tournament in Hawaii.

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