ANTHONY KIM

Jul 11

ANTHONY KIM

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By: Jeff Berlinicke

Anthony Kim decided it was time to grow up.

Sure, he was only 22-years-old and had the ability of Hogan, the shotmaking of Nicklaus and the personality of Palmer. He also had the head of a lot of players who had too much fun being a professional golfer and not a lot of time to actually be a professional golfer.

Kim, who turned 23 in June, had the game, but something was missing. So who did he look to?

He went to the person who has been none other than Tiger Woods’s guru for the past decade — Mark O’Meara. O’Meara, known mostly for being Wood’s neighbor in Central Florida, has also been called a mentor, a buddy and a confidant to Woods. He has also been called a two time major winner after taking the green jacket at The Masters and the Claret Jug at the British Open in 1998.

Today, O’Meara plays on the Champions Tour, but Kim went to him for some advice after a 2007 season in which he never won. Word around the PGA Tour was that Kim wasn’t keeping a solid workout regimen and that maybe he was having a little too much fun.

Kim sought O’Meara out before the 2008 season and got some of the same advice that Woods received after Kim finished a disappointing 60th on the Tour money list last year.

“Mark’s been tremendous for me,’’ Kim said. “Spending time with him is priceless because I learned so much and developed a great friendship that I feel is a very strong bond. If I ever need to get any information or bounce something off of him, I can call him.’’

Kim said the counseling and a new workout regimen made him a better golfer over the winter. His agent, Chris Thompson, said that Kim was “reworking his fitness program for the 2009 season,” and it’s going to be different than last year. Kim busted out of the gate with a tie for third at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic and followed with wins a few weeks later at the Wachovia Championship and then the AT&T National where he closed the deal with a final round 65.

Later, he emerged as the darling of the victorious Ryder Cup team, even after European captain’s pick Ian Poulter accused Kim of throwing a shoulder into him before the final round. Kim ripped Sergio Garcia, 5&4 and seemed to put a bit of fire into the American team, something that has been lacking in recent years and recent losses.

AK, as he is known on the Tour, delivered the knockout punch that gave the U.S. something it hasn’t had in years. Heart and Guts. Something that wasn’t evident two years ago when the U.S. mostly moped around the course in yet another loss to Europe.

The final blow came when he and Garcia both had two-foot putts in their match play on the final Sunday. Garcia gave Kim a look. It’s typical in that position to concede.

Kim told Garcia no way. They both made the putts, but Kim got into Garcia’s head. It was a great way to start the day for the U.S.A.

A year ago, Kim might not have thought the same way. He admits, without getting into much detail, that “his head hasn’t always been totally in the game.” He said that he didn’t practice enough and had his mind on a lot of things off the golf course.

“I think if I had won in 2007, my practicing would have gone down even less,’’ Kim said after winning the Wachovia Championship. “There wasn’t much to go down. I might have been playing on the Hooters Tour. It might have been the best thing for me to get slapped in the face.’’

So he sought out O’Meara who became a quick and close friend. Kim, who played at the University of Oklahoma, admitted he didn’t take golf seriously enough in the past and spent too much time not working on his golf and, well, partying too much. With O’Meara’s guidance, he said he’s refocused on his game on and off the course.

Kim has had the skills since he was a kid growing up in Los Angeles. He was a three-time All-America and NCAA Freshman of the Year at Oklahoma in 2004. He was a part of the 2005 team that won the Walker Cup, but he admits his work ethic hasn’t always been the best since reaching the Tour in 2007 on a full-time basis after making it through Qualifying School.

“Obviously there are things I could have done differently along the way, but hindsight is always 20-20,’’ Kim said. “But at the same time, I think it has made me who I am today and I am very content with my life and how things are going in my life. And so, if I made mistakes, I have learned from them and now I am just looking to be better in the future.’’

Kim might be revamping his workout regimen, but he also said that there is more to playing golf at the highest level than muscle and looking good at the beach.

“If I were to give advice, it would be to keep working hard and not let anything get in the way of it,’’ Kim said, “There will be times when you aren’t the best player in the field and you won’t be the guy everyone is talking about and that really doesn’t matter.’’

Kim has trimmed down his playing schedule based on some advice that O’Meara passed along. He used to play about nine tournaments in 11 weeks and was feeling the grind and letting his body tell him when it was time to rest up. With a more relaxed schedule, in better shape and living an improved lifestyle, Kim was fresh when he arrived at Valhalla for the Ryder Cup this year and it showed, especially with the fist-pumping energy he used to spark the crowds.

What’s next for Kim now that he is going through a new workout program and a new commitment to the game?

When speaking with his team, it is quite apparent that fitness and nutrition are playing a vital role in this young professional’s achievements on and off the course. With a new fitness regime in the making for his 2009 season, one can only imagine the results we will see on the course.

Refocusing and trying to dodge the same questions that have plagued Phil Mickelson, David Duval, Jim Furyk and countless other Tour players. Are you the next challenger to the Tiger? Kim responds as any true professional would, “I am just going to keep working hard–watch out for me,’’ Kim said.