World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions: Anthony Kim needs some sleep

November 5, 5:49 PMBoston Golf ExaminerEmily Kay

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Anthony Kim may need some sleep, but only a multi-exposure photo can explain this hot

(Photo: AP/Manu Fernandez)

November 5 -- You’ll have to pardon American golfer Anthony Kim if he looks a bit like he needs a sleep apnea machine.

• View photos of golf's new rivals, Anthony Kim and Robert Allenby, who may meet again in the WGC-HSBC Champions tourney in China

After only three hours of shut-eye before his opening round of the World Golf Championships-HBSC Champions tourney, Kim is only three off the lead after shooting a 5-under 67 in the first round. The 24-year-old Kim almost didn’t make it to China at all.

Sleepless in Shanghai. Following the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain, Kim spent 24 hours in Hong Kong earlier this week sweating out a visa problem. He finally made it to Shanghai at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, according to PGATour.com.

Kim slept a few hours, practiced a few more late Wednesday at a different course (Matt Kuchar replaced Kim in the WGC pro-am at Sheshan International Golf Club), and finally closed his eyes at about 4:30 a.m.

All four rounds. Kim’s looking to perform a tad better than he did at last year’s HSBC Champions event. He’ll accomplish that by just finishing the tourney.

After trashing his club out of frustration (perhaps he needed that sleep apnea device, after all), Kim was disqualified last year for playing a round with a club damaged “other than in the normal course of play” (Rules of Golf, rule 4-3b).

"I'm not banging my clubs around as much as I did last year, so I shouldn't have to worry about that," Kim told PGATour.com. "I want to play all four rounds this year. That's a goal of mine is to complete four rounds."

After Kim beat up on Aussie Robert Allenby at the Presidents Cup, Allenby accused the American of early-morning drunken revelry. Perhaps Kim thrives on all-nighters, which could be bad news for Allenby. Read about Kim vs. Allenby: Golf’s new rivalry?