Go Anthony Kim

Anthony Kim shot 1 under in the final round of the Quail Hollow to T7.

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by Mick Elliott / Golf Fanhouse

Anthony Kim, seen by pretty much everyone in golf as an uberstar in waiting, has been busy lately living up to many of the lofty expectations.

In his third PGA Tour season Kim, already a three-time Tour winner, is currently riding a month-long hot streak that includes a victory at Houston and a third-place finish at the Masters.

There’s also this week’s Quail Hollow Championship, where, after Saturday’s third-round 70, he’s 5-under and tied for seventh place, four shots back of leader Billy Mayfair’s pacesetting 9-under. Five players are between Kim and the leader — Phil Mickelson (71) and Davis Love III (68) two shots back at 7-under, followed by J.J. Henry, Dustin Johnson and Angel Cabrera trailing by three.

“Obviously, I’ve got to shoot something pretty silly low, because Phil’s up there and Billy is playing well,” Kim said. “It’s going to be a trek, but I can play good out here.”

Kim has been proving he can play good golf pretty much anywhere. And his recent strong performances not only suggest the fulfillment of all those headliner projections, they have Kim openly talking about qualifying for his first U.S. Ryder Cup team: “A huge goal of mine.”

With five months remaining until this year’s matches are played in Wales, he’s second behind only Mickelson on the American points list that automatically qualifies eight players.

So, with every tournament week of success serving as another deposit into a growing savings account, all Kim has to do is decide when to disappear for three months and almost certainly freefall down the points list.

“It’s going to happen, it’s just a matter of when,” Kim said. “The doctor has told me when the pain gets too hard to deal with, that’s when I should do it. But as of now, he said it can’t get any worse, so I guess that’s the good thing. I’m just going to keep playing until I can’t anymore.”

As dilemmas go, Kim has a dandy.

While he may be playing some of his absolute best golf, he’s doing it with a painful left thumb. A ligament has pulled off the bone and needs surgery. For over a year he has played anyway, but lately it has started to become more of a factor.

“It bothers me on some swings, but when you’re making birdies, it doesn’t hurt as bad,” he said. “And then when you make a bogey, it tingles a little bit more.

“So I’m just trying to stay on an even keel as far as my attitude. And once I get done, I just ice it and take some Advil and just try to get through another round.”

The gamble, of course, is that if the pain continues to build, Kim’s game will ultimately pay the price. But to give up three months — probably at least two major championships where Ryder Cup points are doubled — would severely impact Kim’s chances for a place on the U.S. team.

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Anthony Kim is fighting for his second win of 2010. Replay his up-and-down day. Shot Tracker

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