Where has Anthony Kim gone lately? After receiving the dubious label of “the next Tiger Woods,” and playing so well in 2008, Kim has been virtually non-existent this entire season. With 2 wins and 8 top 10’s last year, it was exciting to see a new young gun rising through the ranks of the PGA tour. Unfortunately, Kim has had only 3 top 10’s this year.
According to Wei Under Par (a great site, by the way), here is the reason behind Kim’s lackluster season:
According to a source, Anthony Kim isn’t feeling his usual swagger these days. The source chatted with AK’s trainer, Darby Rich, at the Deutsche Bank Championship. Rich said something like, “Ever since AK missed a crucial 3-foot putt at Congressional, he hasn’t had the confidence to make putts he should be making.” He also mentioned they were working on regaining his lost confidence.
Rich was likely referring to the 3-footer AK missed on the 8th hole in the final round of the AT&T National. He was playing with Tiger Woods, who shared the lead with him going into that day. But AK missed several short putts and finished with a lackluster one-over 71. He placed third.
So, it sounds like AK is struggling with a minor case of the yips. Amazing how one putt can shake a golfer’s confidence. Perhaps he’s calling on the powers of a sports psychologist, which wouldn’t be a surprise considering how important the mental game is.
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I think there are other possibility on why AK is slumping. It could be that he is still only 24 years old and he is still sowing his wild oats. Living here in Dallas I have seen Kim around town..as well as the several dozen other PGA and LPGA Pros who live here and Anthony is a normal growing young man who likes to have fun.
Sometimes those social distractions can be controlled but then sometimes can weight heavy on a young man’s mind.
Kim still has “The Game”. Lack of confidence in golf comes and goes. Tony will come around once he wants to. I still see him taking Tiger to the task of having to beat him and I think AK would be up to “taking the old man down” as I hear the kids his age who are about to come onto the tour next year say they want to do.
Anthony will be the next leader of the pack of youngsters coming on tour..so lets not count him out yet. Golf is about to get real FUN since these kids are going to make Tiger have to sweat…I love it.
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