Kim charges to win at AT&T National
Associated Press
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BETHESDA, Md. — Anthony Kim is on the cusp of joining the short list of challengers to Tiger Woods, a point driven home yesterday with a victory at the AT&T National.
Woods wasn't at Congressional to present the trophy, but he surely would have appreciated Kim's performance. After a week of mistakes that held him back, Kim unleashed a bogey-free round of 5-under 65 for a two-shot victory over Fredrik Jacobson.
Kim became the first American under 25 since Woods to win at least twice in the same year on the PGA Tour.
"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," Kim said of his call from Woods, who was home in Florida recovering from knee surgery.
"To win his golf tournament is amazing," Kim said.
Hawai'i's Dean Wilson, whose 67 put him in a group tied for third, played with Kim in the final round and saw a bright future.
"Awesome," Wilson said. "Very confident, very aggressive the way he plays. He's always shooting at the pins, and it's pretty good."
Wilson finished at 271. The Castle High graduate earned $256,500. Parker McLachlin, a Punahou alum, closed with a 70 to finish at 277 and earn $39,100.
Kim finished at 12-under 268 and earned $1.08 million, putting him at No. 5 in the FedEx Cup standings and moving him closer to cracking the top 10 in the world.
Kim moved up to No. 6 in the Ryder Cup standings, virtually assuring himself a spot on the American team in September. Even if he doesn't qualify, captain Paul Azinger said he wants the hot hand, and not many are playing better than Kim.
Kim also joined some elite company. In the last 10 years, the only other players under 25 with multiple PGA Tour victories in the same season are Woods, Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott.
"He's fearless," Fred Funk said. "And he's just got that arrogance, cocky attitude, that you need to have when he's in the position that he's in. And he's got the game to back it up."
LPGA TOUR
LEE WINS BY ONE STROKE
ROGERS, Ark. — South Korea's Seon Hwa Lee birdied the final hole for a one-stroke victory over Jane Park and Meena Lee in the LPGA Tour's NW Arkansas Championship.
Seon Hwa Lee closed with a 4-under 68 to finish at 15-under 201.
Meena Lee (70) led by a stroke before coming up short of the green on the par-3 17th. Her chip was long, and she missed from about 10 feet for a bogey.
Seon Hwa Lee, playing in the group just ahead, hit her approach on No. 18 within 3 feet, setting up a birdie that she thought would put her in a playoff. Meena Lee had a chance to tie on 18, but missed a 15-foot birdie putt.
Jane Park shot a 62.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
ARGENTINE CLAIMS WIN
ENDICOTT, N.Y. — Argentina's Eduardo Romero won the Dick's Sporting Goods Open for his second Champions Tour title, beating Fulton Allem and Gary Koch by a stroke.
Romero shot a 3-under 69 to finish at 17-under 199, equaling the score recorded by R.W. Eaks a year ago in the inaugural event. Romero also won the 2006 Tradition.
Joey Sindelar (71) was within one shot of the lead entering the final hole, but his tee shot at No. 18 sailed into the right trees and he made double bogey to finish in fourth at 14-under 202.
EUROPEAN TOUR
FISHER ROLLS TO VICTORY
ASH, England — England's Ross Fisher won the European Open, closing with a 4-under 68 in windy and rainy conditions for a seven-stroke victory over Sergio Garcia.
Fisher finished at 20-under 268 on The London Golf Club's Heritage Course. Garcia shot a 66, the best round of the day.
Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell was eight strokes back after a 73, while South Africa's David Frost was another shot behind after a 71. The 48-year-old Frost earned a spot in the British Open.