Anthony Kim waves to the gallery after putting out for birdie on the eighth hole during the first round of the AT&T National golf tournament at Congressional Country Club, Thursday, July 2, 2009, in Bethesda, Md. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
(AP)
Three dozen players shots in the 60s, including Jim Furyk in the group at 66 and U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover at 69. Nearly half the 120-man field was at par or better.
As a tournament host, Woods took some solace that 3-under 67 was still good enough to be in the top 10. As a player, he saw Kim at 62 before he teed off and realized he had better stay as close as he could.
"This is the day to pull it off," he said, "because the greens are so soft."
Kim extended his bogey-free streak at Congressional to 40 holes, dating to the third round a year ago. He missed only one green, coming up just short on the 18th and chipping to about 3 feet. The longest par putt he faced all day was from 4 feet.
"Whenever you can make a bunch of birdies and not bogeys to follow it up, it's going to be a good day," Kim said. "And fortunately, I kept the ball in play for most of the day and finally got some putts to fall this year."
Even though it's the first week of July, it already feels like a long year to Kim.
He has not finished in the top 10 since his runner-up finish in the season-opening tournament at Kapalua, as he traveled the world while coping with injuries, the latest to his left thumb. He had to regrip the club on his backswing, making him tentative.
But as the strength returned, Kim has been able to set the club properly and swing more explosively through the ball.
As he worked his way along a rail to sign autographs, Fred Funk looked over at Kim and asked him what he shot. Without looking up, Kim casually told him he had a 62.
Sixty-what?" Funk said, not believing what he heard. "Where did you cut over?"
There were no shortcuts for Kim, and only limited theatrics. Only two of his birdie putts were tap-in range, as Kim played to spots on the green instead of getting locked in on the flag when it didn't make sense.
Not only is Kim feeling healthy, he is getting stronger. Over the last two months, he has been working intensively with Darby Rich, whom he met at Oklahoma and who recently worked with Blake Griffin as the Sooners' basketball trainer.
