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Kim buckles down to earn win at Congressional
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Fredrik Jacobson, above, was edged by Anthony Kim to win the second AT&T National at Congressional County Club on Sunday. — Hunter Martin/Getty Images
WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Tiger Woods couldn’t be here this week. But Sunday at Congressional Country Club, Anthony Kim delivered the next best thing.
Seizing the stage with a Tiger-like performance, Kim emerged from a jumbled field to win the second AT&T National by two strokes over Fredrik Jacobson. Under cloudy skies and a threat of rain that barely materialized, the 23-year-old Kim shot a 5-under-par 65 in the final round to finish 12-under, win $1,080,000, and claim his second PGA Tour title in nine weeks.
Kim has been called the heir apparent to Woods. And he, too, favors Nike swooshes and fist pumps. Both have Asian blood and were raised in Southern California by working-class parents. Sunday the comparison was more than superficial.
“It’s huge for me,” said Kim. “I grew up watching one video. It was called Tiger’s Triple — when he won three U.S. Juniors and three U.S. Amateurs. To win his golf tournament is amazing.”
After his round, Kim’s trainer doused him with champagne. Later, he received a call from tournament host Woods.
“He told me just to keep working hard and keep it up. And the sky’s the limit and there’s no reason to stop now,” said Kim. “I get chills down my back when I think about it because, like I said, I grew up idolizing him. He is the Michael Jordan of golf.”
Kim had an immaculate final round — five birdies, no bogeys. When the day started, he was tied for sixth and trailed Tom Pernice Jr. by three strokes. But by the time Kim made the turn, he was in the lead for good thanks to his sizzling iron play.
With birdie putts inside 10 feet on Nos. 1, 7, and 9, Kim had the lead. And it could have been more had he cashed in on opportunities of 10 and 5 feet on Nos. 2 and 3.
At. No. 10, Kim stretched his lead to two with a 5-iron to the 218-yard hole, followed by a 16-foot birdie putt. When Kim dropped a 5-foot birdie putt on No. 16, the title was assured.
Kim’s strong round came after getting just a few hours sleep. He admitted to staying up late Saturday watching Ultimate Fighting Championships, even though starting times were moved up three hours, to 10:04 a.m., because of the threat of afternoon storms.
“I had to get up a little bit earlier than I wanted,” said Kim. “But you know, that’s the cost of watching pay per view, I guess.”
Late nights on the town were Kim’s style last year, when he failed to live up to his enormous potential. But he said one morning at the BMW Championships last September convinced him to change his ways.
As he arrived at the course, running late, having yet to visit his locker or change his shoes, he bumped into Woods, who was in the clubhouse after going through his full warm-up and was waiting to tee off.
“I had time to hit about three or four putts and I had to go tee off,” said Kim. “I ended up feeling like I played pretty well and finished [52nd]. That was quite a low point in my golf career.”
But those days may be gone forever, now that Kim has experienced success and is compelled to live up to his potential. Talk of being the challenger to the world’s greatest player, is more reason to buckle down.
“Well, I’ve got to win about 13 more majors to worry him in any aspect,” said Kim.
“I haven’t done enough to say I’m the guy. I’d like to think I can work my way into that position. But right now, I still have a ways to go.”
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P Fish said:
Cable owned marino back in the day.
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Examiner Reader said:
Awesome article. I totally agree. I took a vacation day to watch the Open on Monday. Tiger needs to come back! Thanks for great writing.
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Bronwen Iuen said:
Does anyone know anything about Kevin Dunleavy? If he's from Texas and about 29 then I think I was friends with him in high school (Klein). If anyone would know how to get in touch with him, that would be great. I tried calling but the lady I talked to didn't know anything about him. bronwen.iuen@gmail.com
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Examiner Reader said:
Mr.Dunleavy-A Baltimore boy, Church Waesche, won the 16-17 division of the Gorin on his 16th birthday and was the runner up in the Bobby Bowers last week. Any reason you continue to focus on the Washington region golfers instead of the Baltimore boys?
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grp of marin said:
Michelle should just be Michelle. A pro golfer and a college student. Break away from parental, sponsor, present managment domination and what the LPGA wants. Find her groove make her own decisions and RELAX! At 17 going on to 18 you are considered a young adult. It's time to break away from the nest and feel the air flutter her wings.
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Examiner Reader said:
even if she is going thru some swing changes can't she at least dress like a professional she looks like something from sex in the city, or a three old dressing up out of her mother's closet. some one help her please......
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Kelkyen said:
Did the rich people remember to have the cops in Aberdeen and HdG warn the bums and crackheads along route 40 to stay away?
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