Robert Allenby calls Anthony Kim 'loose cannon,' later apologizes

October 15, 10:56 AMDenver Golf ExaminerGreg Henry

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(AP Photo / Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Somehow, the happiness of the United States team's dominating Presidents Cup victory turned into a bit of ugliness. And poor Anthony Kim became the target of International team member Robert Allenby.

The Australian golfer called Kim the "current John Daly" and a "loose cannon" after the American won handily 5 and 3 in Sunday's singles match. The Americans went on to a convincing 19 1/2-14 1/2 victory at Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco.

Allenby said Kim, who admitted his rookie year in 2007 on the PGA Tour was a "vodka-fueled" season, was seen by some of Allenby's friends coming into the hotel at 4 a.m. "sideways."

“Maybe we should all take the theory of Anthony Kim,” Allenby said. “Get home at 4 o’clock (in the morning) and then go shoot 6 under.”

Asked by a GolfWeek magazine reporter if his comments were on the record, Allenby said, “I don’t care. Ask his playing partners. Ask his team. He is the loosest cannon in that team.”

Kim was taken aback by the comments, saying, "“I’m actually pretty surprised that he said that. I was in tip-top shape coming into today."

(AP Photo / Marcio Jose Sanchez)

PGA Tour officials have been doing damage control all week and Allenby issued an apology, although using the standard line -- "I feel like the comments published were taken out of context."

Allenby, in a statement through the PGA Tour, said: "I did call Anthony to apologize for anything that I said or inferred that could possibly portray Anthony as anything less than a professional of the highest caliber.  He was a key member of the U.S. Team last week and a formidable opponent on Sunday when we faced each other in singles competition.  I am glad we had the chance to speak and clear the air.”

U.S. team captain Fred Couples was flabbergasted by Allenby's comments. Couples told Seattle radio station 950 KJR-AM in an interview Wednesday, "I promise you, there's no way you can go out and beat a guy like Robert Allenby 5 and 3 if you're out until 4 in the morning. There's just no way. It kind of crushed (Kim). It was the best week that he ever had and those comments kind of crushed him."