VILLEGAS WITH LEAD: Camilo Villegas has the lead following a round on the PGA TOUR for the fifth time in his young career. His 5-under 65 leads Steve Stricker, Kenny Perry, Tim Herron, Andres Romero and Stuart Appleby by one shot. Here is how Villegas, who is still looking for his first PGA TOUR win, has fared with the lead: -- (6:34 p.m. ET) He made birdie on his first two holes and his last two Friday, andadded two more birdies in between. Kim simply gave too many shots back with four bogeys, though. KIM UPDATE: Anthony Kim's round of 68 could have been so much better. "I played a lot better than I scored," Kim admitted. "That's been the case the last several months. My game's moving in the right direction. I'm looking forward to putting some good holes together, stringing some good rounds together and then it'll all pay off." Kim had his chances on Friday, too. He started on the back nine and rolled in a 21-footer at No. 10 and a 22-footer at the 11th. His other birdie putts came from 11, 25, 2 and 30 feet as Kim tied for first in total distance of putts made at 135 feet, 6 inches.
VILLEGAS WITH LEAD: Camilo Villegas has the lead following a round on the PGA TOUR for the fifth time in his young career. His 5-under 65 leads Steve Stricker, Kenny Perry, Tim Herron, Andres Romero and Stuart Appleby by one shot.
Here is how Villegas, who is still looking for his first PGA TOUR win, has fared with the lead: -- (6:34 p.m. ET)
He made birdie on his first two holes and his last two Friday, andadded two more birdies in between. Kim simply gave too many shots back with four bogeys, though.
KIM UPDATE: Anthony Kim's round of 68 could have been so much better.
"I played a lot better than I scored," Kim admitted. "That's been the case the last several months. My game's moving in the right direction. I'm looking forward to putting some good holes together, stringing some good rounds together and then it'll all pay off."
Kim had his chances on Friday, too. He started on the back nine and rolled in a 21-footer at No. 10 and a 22-footer at the 11th. His other birdie putts came from 11, 25, 2 and 30 feet as Kim tied for first in total distance of putts made at 135 feet, 6 inches.
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With two PGA Tour victories this season before he turned 23 years old, it would be understandable if Anthony Kim eschewed the advice of others and did what his youthful instincts told him. But in addition to being one of the longest drivers on tour, Kim is showing that an ability to listen is doing wonders for his game. Case in point: Kim's back-to-back rounds of 66 to move into contention at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Saturday. "This is the first time that I've hit the ball solidly for two days in a row in about two months," said Kim, who won the Wachovia Championship in May and the AT&T National in early July. "I'm very excited to see what I've got coming on Sunday and Monday." While he finished in a tie for seventh at the British Open and a tie for eighth at the Canadian Open a week later, Kim said the adjustments he made to fight the wind at Royal Birkdale had a lingering effect on his game.
With two PGA Tour victories this season before he turned 23 years old, it would be understandable if Anthony Kim eschewed the advice of others and did what his youthful instincts told him.
But in addition to being one of the longest drivers on tour, Kim is showing that an ability to listen is doing wonders for his game. Case in point: Kim's back-to-back rounds of 66 to move into contention at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Saturday.
"This is the first time that I've hit the ball solidly for two days in a row in about two months," said Kim, who won the Wachovia Championship in May and the AT&T National in early July. "I'm very excited to see what I've got coming on Sunday and Monday."
While he finished in a tie for seventh at the British Open and a tie for eighth at the Canadian Open a week later, Kim said the adjustments he made to fight the wind at Royal Birkdale had a lingering effect on his game.
PARAMUS, N.J. -- On Friday, Anthony Kim, not an angry swarm of bees, went on the offensive at Ridgewood Country Club. And the phenomenal 23-year-old, who had been stung by one bee and found several others creeping up his pants leg on Thursday, was rewarded with a 67 that left him 5 under at the midway point of The Barclays. Kim, who entered the first event of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup seeded fifth, trails defending champion Steve Stricker by five strokes. "I haven't played a round that well in a long time," Kim said. "My scores have been okay, but I really felt like I played some good golf so I'm very excited." Kim saw cause for optimism because he did a much better job keeping the ball in the fairway, rather than flirting with the huge oaks and fir trees that line the tight fairways on this A.W. Tillinghast masterpiece. He hit 10 fairways on Friday, which was twice the amount he found during the first round. "It's a lot more fun when you're not hitting out of the trees and chipping out sideways," Kim said. "(I) definitely had a good time out there and definitely my game is improving."
PARAMUS, N.J. -- On Friday, Anthony Kim, not an angry swarm of bees, went on the offensive at Ridgewood Country Club.
And the phenomenal 23-year-old, who had been stung by one bee and found several others creeping up his pants leg on Thursday, was rewarded with a 67 that left him 5 under at the midway point of The Barclays. Kim, who entered the first event of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup seeded fifth, trails defending champion Steve Stricker by five strokes.
"I haven't played a round that well in a long time," Kim said. "My scores have been okay, but I really felt like I played some good golf so I'm very excited."
Kim saw cause for optimism because he did a much better job keeping the ball in the fairway, rather than flirting with the huge oaks and fir trees that line the tight fairways on this A.W. Tillinghast masterpiece. He hit 10 fairways on Friday, which was twice the amount he found during the first round.
"It's a lot more fun when you're not hitting out of the trees and chipping out sideways," Kim said. "(I) definitely had a good time out there and definitely my game is improving."
From GOLF.comTodd Hamilton remembered the old Anthony Kim, the ''''life of the party'''' Anthony Kim, from a night the two University of Oklahoma products spent in a campus bar. ''''He bought my first Jager Bomb,'''' Hamilton said. Not only was Kim, 20 years Hamilton''s junior, introducing a friend to the potent concoction of Red Bull and Jagermeister, but also, Hamilton said, Kim was too young to be in the establishment. Kim, the street-wise Californian who turned 23 last month, will be the first to concede he wasted his rookie year because of too many Jager Bombs and too little practice. Even then, the former junior and collegiate All-American earned $1.5 million and recorded four top-10 finishes. But after an epiphany of sorts, following a brief encounter with Tiger Woods in September during the FedEx Cup playoffs, Kim decided he was going about things all wrong. Now dedicated to the game instead of to the 19th hole, Kim has begun to live up to expectations. Some believe he could be a fitting challenger to Woods, the world''s No. 1 player sidelined for the rest of 2008 following knee surgery.Keep reading....
Todd Hamilton remembered the old Anthony Kim, the ''''life of the party'''' Anthony Kim, from a night the two University of Oklahoma products spent in a campus bar. ''''He bought my first Jager Bomb,'''' Hamilton said. Not only was Kim, 20 years Hamilton''s junior, introducing a friend to the potent concoction of Red Bull and Jagermeister, but also, Hamilton said, Kim was too young to be in the establishment. Kim, the street-wise Californian who turned 23 last month, will be the first to concede he wasted his rookie year because of too many Jager Bombs and too little practice. Even then, the former junior and collegiate All-American earned $1.5 million and recorded four top-10 finishes. But after an epiphany of sorts, following a brief encounter with Tiger Woods in September during the FedEx Cup playoffs, Kim decided he was going about things all wrong. Now dedicated to the game instead of to the 19th hole, Kim has begun to live up to expectations. Some believe he could be a fitting challenger to Woods, the world''s No. 1 player sidelined for the rest of 2008 following knee surgery.
From PGATour.comOAKVILLE, Ontario (AP) -- Anthony Kim and Chez Reavie topped the leaderboard when the sun -- yes, the sun -- dipped below the trees at rain-drenched Glen Abbey, ending yet another long day at the RBC Canadian Open.Kim made nine birdies and an eagle in 21 holes Saturday for a share of the lead with Reavie during the suspended third round."Anthony and I play different games," Reavie said. "He hits the ball really long and I don''t. So I need to stick to my game plan, hit fairways and greens and give myself opportunities to make birdies."Keep reading....
OAKVILLE, Ontario (AP) -- Anthony Kim and Chez Reavie topped the leaderboard when the sun -- yes, the sun -- dipped below the trees at rain-drenched Glen Abbey, ending yet another long day at the RBC Canadian Open.Kim made nine birdies and an eagle in 21 holes Saturday for a share of the lead with Reavie during the suspended third round."Anthony and I play different games," Reavie said. "He hits the ball really long and I don''t. So I need to stick to my game plan, hit fairways and greens and give myself opportunities to make birdies."
From ESPN.comOAKVILLE, Ontario -- Anthony Kim made nine birdies and an eagle in 21 holes Saturday in the Canadian Open for a share of the lead with Chez Reavie during the suspended third round at rain-softened Glen Abbey.Kim, tied for 26th at 4 under through 15 holes when second-round play was suspended Friday night, went birdie-birdie-eagle Saturday morning for a 2-under 69, then added a bogey-free 64 in the third round to match Reavie at 15 under."I''ve put myself in a good position," said Kim, seeking his third victory of the year. "I''m looking forward to the challenge tomorrow."Reavie was 2 under through 16 holes when darkness ended play on the course saturated by more than 8 inches of rain in a week. He had a 25-foot putt from the fringe on No. 17 when he called it a day."When we got up toKeep reading....
OAKVILLE, Ontario -- Anthony Kim made nine birdies and an eagle in 21 holes Saturday in the Canadian Open for a share of the lead with Chez Reavie during the suspended third round at rain-softened Glen Abbey.Kim, tied for 26th at 4 under through 15 holes when second-round play was suspended Friday night, went birdie-birdie-eagle Saturday morning for a 2-under 69, then added a bogey-free 64 in the third round to match Reavie at 15 under."I''ve put myself in a good position," said Kim, seeking his third victory of the year. "I''m looking forward to the challenge tomorrow."Reavie was 2 under through 16 holes when darkness ended play on the course saturated by more than 8 inches of rain in a week. He had a 25-foot putt from the fringe on No. 17 when he called it a day."When we got up to
From Canoe.comOAKVILLE, Ont. - Watching Anthony Kim walk onto the busy practice range at Glen Abbey on Tuesday was like seeing a high-powered magnet get pointed at a pile of quarters. It took no time at all for many of Kim''s fellow pros and their caddies to come his way, seemingly drawn to a 23-year-old who has the look of golf''s next big thing. Kim cracked a few jokes and exchanged fist bumps with others on the range before talking on his cellphone for several minutes while hitting balls one-handed. It was impossible to ignore his presence - and that presence only seems to be growing each week. Keep reading....
OAKVILLE, Ont. - Watching Anthony Kim walk onto the busy practice range at Glen Abbey on Tuesday was like seeing a high-powered magnet get pointed at a pile of quarters. It took no time at all for many of Kim''s fellow pros and their caddies to come his way, seemingly drawn to a 23-year-old who has the look of golf''s next big thing. Kim cracked a few jokes and exchanged fist bumps with others on the range before talking on his cellphone for several minutes while hitting balls one-handed. It was impossible to ignore his presence - and that presence only seems to be growing each week.
From PGA.comBy Melanie Hauser, PGATOUR.com CorrespondentSOUTHPORT, England -- He wouldn''t have been able to handle this a year ago.The wind. The wild swings. The patience you need to stay focused and not lose it in the relentless gusts. The focus, period, on your shots.Anthony Kim shook his head and laughed."I would have lost my mind out there," he said.But a year of maturing and a little advice from former Open champ Todd Hamilton had Kim rocketing up the leaderboard at the 137th Open Championship Saturday afternoon."He told me, ''Keep your head down. You never know what will happen,''" Kim said.Hamilton was spot on.Keep reading....
SOUTHPORT, England -- He wouldn''t have been able to handle this a year ago.The wind. The wild swings. The patience you need to stay focused and not lose it in the relentless gusts. The focus, period, on your shots.Anthony Kim shook his head and laughed."I would have lost my mind out there," he said.But a year of maturing and a little advice from former Open champ Todd Hamilton had Kim rocketing up the leaderboard at the 137th Open Championship Saturday afternoon."He told me, ''Keep your head down. You never know what will happen,''" Kim said.Hamilton was spot on.
From mydesert.comPlaying in his first British Open, Anthony Kim of La Quinta moved into contention today in the oldest of golf''s major championships with a round of 2-over 72 at Royal Birkdale in England.Kim, 23 but already a two-time winner on the PGA Tour this year, survived the difficult weather conditions of the west coast of England with three birdies and five bogeys over the seaside Royal Birkdale course. The 72 put him just three shots behind tri-leaders Rocco Mediate, Graeme McDowell and Robert Allenby.Entering the tournament Kim had little links golf experience and had never played in the British Open. But the former La Quinta High School star did far better than many of golf''s biggest names. With winds of 30 mph and heavy rains early in the day and only slightly calmer and drier conditions later, only three players managed to break par-70. Kim''s 72 put him tied for 15th in the 154-player field with only a handful of golfers left on the course.Keep reading....
Playing in his first British Open, Anthony Kim of La Quinta moved into contention today in the oldest of golf''s major championships with a round of 2-over 72 at Royal Birkdale in England.Kim, 23 but already a two-time winner on the PGA Tour this year, survived the difficult weather conditions of the west coast of England with three birdies and five bogeys over the seaside Royal Birkdale course. The 72 put him just three shots behind tri-leaders Rocco Mediate, Graeme McDowell and Robert Allenby.Entering the tournament Kim had little links golf experience and had never played in the British Open. But the former La Quinta High School star did far better than many of golf''s biggest names. With winds of 30 mph and heavy rains early in the day and only slightly calmer and drier conditions later, only three players managed to break par-70. Kim''s 72 put him tied for 15th in the 154-player field with only a handful of golfers left on the course.
From The Golf ChannelSOUTHPORT, England -- Anthony Kim stopped off on his way to the clubhouse, whipped out his pen to sign a few autographs, then looked back impatiently at his caddie, still loitering on the ninth green.“Let’s go, E!” he barked toward Eric Larsen. “You know how cranky I get when I’m hungry.”Kim was just kidding around, but it wouldn’t be out of line to say those words carried meaning.This guy isn’t waiting around for anyone. There are places to be, golf tournaments to win.Maybe even a major.In his second year on the PGA TOUR, Kim has won on two of the most challenging courses and established himself as the latest would-be contender to Tiger Woods’ throne. With the king on hiatus—Woods is sitting out the rest of the year to recover from knee surgery—the expectations on this cocky 23-year-old from Los Angeles have only intensified heading into the British Open.“He’s got a lot of game,” Jim Furyk said. “I just don’t see a lot of weaknesses. I haven’t played a lot with him, but when I have, I haven’t seen him do anything poorly.”Keep reading....
SOUTHPORT, England -- Anthony Kim stopped off on his way to the clubhouse, whipped out his pen to sign a few autographs, then looked back impatiently at his caddie, still loitering on the ninth green.“Let’s go, E!” he barked toward Eric Larsen. “You know how cranky I get when I’m hungry.”Kim was just kidding around, but it wouldn’t be out of line to say those words carried meaning.This guy isn’t waiting around for anyone. There are places to be, golf tournaments to win.Maybe even a major.In his second year on the PGA TOUR, Kim has won on two of the most challenging courses and established himself as the latest would-be contender to Tiger Woods’ throne. With the king on hiatus—Woods is sitting out the rest of the year to recover from knee surgery—the expectations on this cocky 23-year-old from Los Angeles have only intensified heading into the British Open.“He’s got a lot of game,” Jim Furyk said. “I just don’t see a lot of weaknesses. I haven’t played a lot with him, but when I have, I haven’t seen him do anything poorly.”
From The LA TimesBy Chuck Culpepper, Special to The TimesJuly 16, 2008SOUTHPORT, England -- Twenty-three things about 23-year-old Anthony Kim, the surging golfer and amusing gabber playing his first British Open with two PGA Tour wins already:* In a biographical turn seldom seen on the planet, Kim''s parents, Korean immigrants, moved their only child from Studio City to La Quinta at age 16, trusting him to reside alone and attend La Quinta High amid ample golf courses and scant urban distractions, while they ran their herbs store on 6th Street in Los Angeles. His mother, Miryoung, cooked weeks of meals and stored them in the freezer. "I loved the microwave, and I still love the microwave," Kim said.* When Tiger Woods won the 1997 Masters at 21, Kim watched intently at 11 and, "I remember in my mind, putting my face on his body."* The last guy to win a British Open here at Royal Birkdale, Mark O''Meara, 51, played golf with Kim last December and said Monday, "I called a bunch of people, Tiger included, and I said, ''You know what? This kid here is the best young player I''ve ever seen come along since Tiger. He has the most skill, the most talent. He seems like he''s got an attitude but he''s not afraid.'' "href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/golf/la-sp-british16-2008jul16,0,5973010.story?track=rss">Keep reading....
By Chuck Culpepper, Special to The TimesJuly 16, 2008
SOUTHPORT, England -- Twenty-three things about 23-year-old Anthony Kim, the surging golfer and amusing gabber playing his first British Open with two PGA Tour wins already:* In a biographical turn seldom seen on the planet, Kim''s parents, Korean immigrants, moved their only child from Studio City to La Quinta at age 16, trusting him to reside alone and attend La Quinta High amid ample golf courses and scant urban distractions, while they ran their herbs store on 6th Street in Los Angeles. His mother, Miryoung, cooked weeks of meals and stored them in the freezer. "I loved the microwave, and I still love the microwave," Kim said.* When Tiger Woods won the 1997 Masters at 21, Kim watched intently at 11 and, "I remember in my mind, putting my face on his body."* The last guy to win a British Open here at Royal Birkdale, Mark O''Meara, 51, played golf with Kim last December and said Monday, "I called a bunch of people, Tiger included, and I said, ''You know what? This kid here is the best young player I''ve ever seen come along since Tiger. He has the most skill, the most talent. He seems like he''s got an attitude but he''s not afraid.'' "href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/golf/la-sp-british16-2008jul16,0,5973010.story?track=rss">Keep reading....
SOUTHPORT, England -- Twenty-three things about 23-year-old Anthony Kim, the surging golfer and amusing gabber playing his first British Open with two PGA Tour wins already:* In a biographical turn seldom seen on the planet, Kim''s parents, Korean immigrants, moved their only child from Studio City to La Quinta at age 16, trusting him to reside alone and attend La Quinta High amid ample golf courses and scant urban distractions, while they ran their herbs store on 6th Street in Los Angeles. His mother, Miryoung, cooked weeks of meals and stored them in the freezer. "I loved the microwave, and I still love the microwave," Kim said.* When Tiger Woods won the 1997 Masters at 21, Kim watched intently at 11 and, "I remember in my mind, putting my face on his body."* The last guy to win a British Open here at Royal Birkdale, Mark O''Meara, 51, played golf with Kim last December and said Monday, "I called a bunch of people, Tiger included, and I said, ''You know what? This kid here is the best young player I''ve ever seen come along since Tiger. He has the most skill, the most talent. He seems like he''s got an attitude but he''s not afraid.'' "
href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/golf/la-sp-british16-2008jul16,0,5973010.story?track=rss">Keep reading....
Fresh off his second victory of the year, at the AT&T National, Anthony Kim was quick to swipe aside questions of where he ranks in golf''s under-30 crowd.Adam Scott? Sergio Garcia? They are all well ahead of Kim, at least according to the 23-year-old two-time winner. Although those longer-tenured players do rank in front of Kim on the Official World Golf Ranking, it doesn''t look as though the former Oklahoma Sooner will be in the back of that pack for very long. So is Kim gaining ground on his higher-profile 20-something competitors? Our experts give their takes in this week''s edition of Fact or Fiction.Keep reading....
Fresh off his second victory of the year, at the AT&T National, Anthony Kim was quick to swipe aside questions of where he ranks in golf''s under-30 crowd.Adam Scott? Sergio Garcia? They are all well ahead of Kim, at least according to the 23-year-old two-time winner. Although those longer-tenured players do rank in front of Kim on the Official World Golf Ranking, it doesn''t look as though the former Oklahoma Sooner will be in the back of that pack for very long. So is Kim gaining ground on his higher-profile 20-something competitors? Our experts give their takes in this week''s edition of Fact or Fiction.
From GOLF.comAs you might expect from a guy who wears a diamond-studded belt buckle, Anthony Kim likes to play poker. And trust me, you wouldn''t want to play him. He''s got that Gus Hanson mentality -- totally unpredictable. He''ll go all-in with a 2-7 off-suit. Anthony''s not afraid to gamble and there''s just no telling what he''s going to do. That makes him tough to play.He''s tough to play on the golf course too, as fans and fellow Tour players are learning this year with his wins at the Wachovia in May and now the AT&T National at Congressional (a.k.a. Tiger''s Tournament) on Fourth of July weekend with a final-round 65.I''ve known Anthony since he was 10 years old. He grew up hitting balls at the Studio City (Calif.) Golf Club. Actually, we all did since it was the only night-lit driving range in the San Fernando Valley. The community of players on our side of the Valley is not that large, and the guys who play in big tournaments all know each other.Keep reading....
As you might expect from a guy who wears a diamond-studded belt buckle, Anthony Kim likes to play poker. And trust me, you wouldn''t want to play him. He''s got that Gus Hanson mentality -- totally unpredictable. He''ll go all-in with a 2-7 off-suit. Anthony''s not afraid to gamble and there''s just no telling what he''s going to do. That makes him tough to play.He''s tough to play on the golf course too, as fans and fellow Tour players are learning this year with his wins at the Wachovia in May and now the AT&T National at Congressional (a.k.a. Tiger''s Tournament) on Fourth of July weekend with a final-round 65.I''ve known Anthony since he was 10 years old. He grew up hitting balls at the Studio City (Calif.) Golf Club. Actually, we all did since it was the only night-lit driving range in the San Fernando Valley. The community of players on our side of the Valley is not that large, and the guys who play in big tournaments all know each other.
As you might expect from a guy who wears a diamond-studded belt buckle, Anthony Kim likes to play poker. And trust me, you wouldn''t want to play him. He''s got that Gus Hanson mentality -- totally unpredictable. He''ll go all-in with a 2-7 off-suit. Anthony''s not afraid to gamble and there''s just no telling what he''s going to do. That makes him tough to play.
He''s tough to play on the golf course too, as fans and fellow Tour players are learning this year with his wins at the Wachovia in May and now the AT&T National at Congressional (a.k.a. Tiger''s Tournament) on Fourth of July weekend with a final-round 65.
I''ve known Anthony since he was 10 years old. He grew up hitting balls at the Studio City (Calif.) Golf Club. Actually, we all did since it was the only night-lit driving range in the San Fernando Valley. The community of players on our side of the Valley is not that large, and the guys who play in big tournaments all know each other.
Keep reading....
From ESPN.comIs it possible to write something about the PGA Tour these days and not mention the world''s No. 1-ranked player? ESPN.com golf experts Bob Harig and Jason Sobel tried to dance around him, but alas, came up short like a good lag putt.So who did they talk about instead? Well, newly minted AT&T National champion Anthony Kim''s future was a hot topic as well as what the Ryder Cup will hold for Kim and the rest of the American squad come September without, uh, Tiger Woods. (We said it was nearly impossible not to mention his name, didn''t we?) Harig and Sobel delve into all these topics and more in their weekly e-mail chat, Alternate Shot.Keep reading....
Is it possible to write something about the PGA Tour these days and not mention the world''s No. 1-ranked player? ESPN.com golf experts Bob Harig and Jason Sobel tried to dance around him, but alas, came up short like a good lag putt.So who did they talk about instead? Well, newly minted AT&T National champion Anthony Kim''s future was a hot topic as well as what the Ryder Cup will hold for Kim and the rest of the American squad come September without, uh, Tiger Woods. (We said it was nearly impossible not to mention his name, didn''t we?) Harig and Sobel delve into all these topics and more in their weekly e-mail chat, Alternate Shot.
From Golf ChannelBETHESDA, Md. -- Mark O’Meara saw the change in Anthony Kim seven months ago when he barely knew him.Kim had finished his rookie year on the PGA TOUR with only a reputation, and not the kind a 22-year-old needed. No one questioned his talent, only his temper. He often spoke without thinking, and he spent more time soaking up the night life than working on his day job.They were teammates in the Merrill Lynch Shootout last December, and before they could get through the introductions, Kim told O’Meara that he had made some mistakes and needed some advice.“I just conveyed to Anthony, ‘You’ve got as much talent or more than any other player I’ve ever seen besides Tiger.’ And I believe that,” O’Meara said earlier this year. “I’m not trying to put pressure on him, and I told him that. I laid it out for him. ‘Unless you don’t like money and you don’t want to win tournaments, then maybe you continue down that other road.’“He could win multiple tournaments a year, easily, and win major championships. That’s how talented he is.”Keep reading....
BETHESDA, Md. -- Mark O’Meara saw the change in Anthony Kim seven months ago when he barely knew him.Kim had finished his rookie year on the PGA TOUR with only a reputation, and not the kind a 22-year-old needed. No one questioned his talent, only his temper. He often spoke without thinking, and he spent more time soaking up the night life than working on his day job.They were teammates in the Merrill Lynch Shootout last December, and before they could get through the introductions, Kim told O’Meara that he had made some mistakes and needed some advice.“I just conveyed to Anthony, ‘You’ve got as much talent or more than any other player I’ve ever seen besides Tiger.’ And I believe that,” O’Meara said earlier this year. “I’m not trying to put pressure on him, and I told him that. I laid it out for him. ‘Unless you don’t like money and you don’t want to win tournaments, then maybe you continue down that other road.’“He could win multiple tournaments a year, easily, and win major championships. That’s how talented he is.”