Go Anthony Kim

by Bob Young / The Arizona RepublicThe Arizona Republic

Make way for flashing belt buckles, DayGlo pants, painters caps and the dude who reads putts like a gecko.

The young guns of the PGA Tour were trying to turn the Waste Management Phoenix Open into their own private celebration – until 36-year-old Mark Wilson decided to crash the party.

Wilson birdied his final four holes on the way to a 5-under-par 66 that vaulted him into a share the lead with 28-year-old Camilo Villegas at 11-under going into the weekend.

“I’m obviously not the star player up there,” Wilson said. “There are some young guys that are at the top that are close to me that everybody is going to be watching, so I’ll just stick to my own game and do the best I can.”

Among those packed just behind Villegas and Wilson is a who’s who of up-and-coming stars, including:

• Anthony Kim, the 24-year-old who already has two Tour victories and a Ryder Cup on his resumé. He posted a 6-under-par 65 that left him at 10-under.
• Tour rookie Rickie Fowler, the 22-year-old sensation. He is 10-under after a second-round 67 – despite driving the green at the short 17th hole and then four-putting it.
• Ryan Moore, 27, who finished tied for sixth here last year and then went on to win his first Tour event at the Wyndham Championship. He is at 10-under after his second straight 66.

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by Diane Pucin / Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles native Anthony Kim, 24, who won two PGA Tour tournaments in 2008 and was tabbed as the next great young American golfer, is determined to rebound after what he called a “disappointing” 2009, in which he had only three top-10 finishes after eight the year before.

Playing the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club as his first PGA Tour event this year, Kim is tied for seventh after shooting a five-under-par 66 Friday.

“What I did last year was so disappointing,” Kim said. “It really affected my confidence. I need to get out here and work as hard as I can.”

Kim’s Friday round had big highs and lows. He had eight birdies and three bogeys, but the final score was his best of eight rounds he has played at this tournament. Kim missed the cut here in 2008 and finished tied for ninth in 2007.

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Anyone else realize professional tour golf is hitting its third week of the season? Anyone? Bueller…Bueller.

We know things get kind of hectic during the holiday season. There are all those bowl pools to track. The NFL postseason is heating up and you’re a little bummed that Penn State’s current recruiting class won’t include that stud RB from South Carolina.

Plus, when it’s below 10 degrees with the wind chill, who really wants to watch those short-sleeved few traipse around sunny Maui and Oahu? I don’t, even though a small percentage of my job description says I should.

The reason? Golf is a little boring this time of year. Always has been.

And it has nothing to do with Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson yet again choosing to skip the SBA Championship, a 2009 winners’-only event, at Kapalua or Sony Open, the first full-field event at Waialae.

It has, however, been interesting to listen to those TV personalities skirt the Woods “situation.”

Speculation on when the world’s No. 1 will resurface seems to be acceptable banter, but most are choosing to “chat-up” the next potential wave of golf superstars who might help generate some buzz in Tiger’s absence, especially early in the season.

Wow, what a genuine idea.

Problem is, during the last few seasons we, the viewing audience, have been introduced to only a handful of up-and-coming personalities who have top-flight games to match.

With golf returning to the mainland this week at the Bob Hope Classic, here are some under-30 guns worthy of attention in the coming weeks. That’s assuming you’re not too busy reading the latest TMZ or National Inquirer reports that have Woods seeking refuge on the Moon.

RORY MCILROY: Has serious game and is already an international phenom at 21, McIlroy made 10 of 11 PGA Tour cuts last season. The Northern Ireland product has become a crowd favorite for his carefree demeanor and shaggy mop. Can the Tour convince him to cross the pond more often?

ANDRES ROMERO: The 2008 Rookie of the Year is approaching 30 and has just one victory. But Romero has a reputation for hanging around at major tournaments. The Argentinean played his best golf late in the 2009 season.

ANTHONY KIM: Despite Robert Allenby’s assessment of the California kid, PGA Tour brass need Kim to have a banner season. They certainly took notice when Kim engaged the President’s Cup crowd and had business types buzzing around the water cooler for weeks. When he’s on, no one racks up birdies like Kim.

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AP / timeslive.co.za

Anthony Kim has won the Kiwi Challenge golf tournament despite making a bogey in a playoff, beating fellow American Sean O’Hair to win the $1 million check at Cape Kidnappers.

Kim shot a 5-under 66 on Thursday and was leading over the back nine until O’Hair made a birdie on the 18th hole for a 3-under 69 to force a playoff in the 36-hole exhibition for players under 30.

O’Hair found trouble left of the 650-yard 15th hole and made a double bogey, allowing Kim to win by taking four shots to reach the green and two-putting for a bogey.

Hunter Mahan of the United States shot 67 to finish three strokes behind, while Colombia’s Camilo Villegas (72) was another shot behind.

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