Anthony Kim Going for Two in a Row this Week
Defending champion, Anthony Kim has the utmost respect for tournament host, Tiger Woods, yet he’s not about to back down with the world’s number one at his back. According to Kim, he’s just got to do what he does, and things will take care of themselves. What he did in round one of the AT&T National was set a Congressional Country Club course record, 8-under-par 62. Kim fired a 29 on his back nine (the front) and even lipped out a birdie attempt at the ninth that could have driven that course record down by a stroke. “You don’t have many opportunities to bust a 61,” commented Kim, not satisfied with his feat.
Nor should he be, because Congressional was there for the taking during round one. Several players, including Kim, fired their best rounds of the year, and lurking 2 strokes back is event host Tiger Woods. While Kim played in the haze of morning, Woods’ round was drenched sun and his gallery was immense. Tournament officials say it is the best first round attendance numbers in the brief history of the event, but rumor is that includes every playing of the previous PGA TOUR event, the Kemper/FBR/Booze-Allen Open. Tiger opened up with birdies on his first two tournament holes, the latter of which was a curling 45-footer that brought the gallery to an uproar. He made another longish birdie on the 12th and added pops at 15 and 16 to finish at -6, shooting a 64. With that kind of round, Woods not only made Kim’s round seem a little less impressive, he also fired a warning shot to the field.
Tiger Woods tees off at the Par-3 10th
Others who put themselves in good position on Thursday were D.A. Points, former collegiate sensation Bryce Molder, who has found some good play of late and could be around into the weekend. Of course, no leaderboard at Congressional would be complete without the name Jim Furyk. He’s had two straight top 5 finishes at the AT&T National, and is a cinch for another, if not a win outright. Furyk got it into the house at -4.
U.S. Open Champion, Lucas Glover, playing with Tiger, had an up and down round and finished with a -1, 69. Those who witnessed his drive at the 18th hole claim that there won’t be another one as long this week. He outdrove his playing partners Woods and Hoffman by some 80 yards and had a lob wedge into the green, consequently, Glover missed the green with his approach.
But make no mistake, the results of the first round make it more and more likely that we may see the defending champion and the host.. the kid and the mentor.. AK and TW go at it this weekend. It would make a fine farewell treat for the exiting (but soon to return) tournament.
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