By By DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer
BETHESDA, Md. — Anthony Kim is on the cusp of joining the short list of challengers to Tiger Woods, a point driven home Sunday not so much by his victory at the AT&T National as the phone call he received from the tournament host.
Woods wasn’t at Congressional to present the trophy, but he surely would have appreciated Kim’s performance. After a week of mistakes that held him back, Kim unleashed a bogey-free round of 5-under 65 for a two-shot victory over Fredrik Jacobson.
Kim became the first American under 25 since Woods to win at least twice in the same year on the PGA Tour.
Even more valuable was what he learned from Woods late last season at the BMW Championship.
Kim showed up at Cog Hill with enough time to wolf down a breakfast burrito, rap a few putts and go to the first tee. He noticed that Woods, scheduled to tee off 11 minutes ahead of him, had been on the course for some time getting ready for the round.
Woods wound up winning the tournament. Kim finished 22 shots behind.
First came a five-shot victory at Quail Hollow in the Wachovia Championship. Equally impressive was how Kim steadied himself at Congressional, coming from three shots behind and building a four-shot lead on the back nine until a late charge by Jacobson.
Kim might just be getting started.
He moved up to No. 6 in the Ryder Cup standings, virtually assuring himself a spot on the American team in September. Even if he doesn’t qualify, captain Paul Azinger said he wants the hot hand, and not many are playing better than Kim.
Kim also joined some elite company. In the last 10 years, the only other players under 25 with multiple PGA Tour victories in the same season are Woods, Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott.
The other two youngsters haven’t put up much of fight. Kim might be different.
Trouble is, he’ll have to wait to prove what kind of challenge he can throw at the world’s No. 1 player.
Woods had season-ending surgery last week and said Sunday during the telecast that he has no idea how his body will heal from a rebuilt left knee or when he will return.
His statement was playing the final 22 holes at Congressional without a bogey, and emerging from a crowded leaderboard with birdies around the turn, including a 5-iron that covered the flag on the par-3 10th and settled 18 feet behind the cup.
Kim finished at 12-under 268 and earned $1.08 million, putting him at No. 5 in the FedEx Cup standings and moving him closer to cracking the top 10 in the world.
Jacobson birdied four straight holes to close the gap, but had to settle for a par on the 18th hole that came with a consolation prize. He earned a trip to the British Open as the highest finisher among the top 5 at the AT&T National not already exempt.
U.S. Open runner-up Rocco Mediate also qualified for Royal Birkdale from a special money list.
Tommy Armour III closed with a 69 and was among six players who tied for third at 271. Armour finished with six straight pars, when one birdie would have earned him a spot in the British Open over Mediate.
Almost as big as the trophy was Kim’s belt buckle, sparkling with gems around his ‘‘AK’’ insignia. He wasn’t going to wear it unless he was in the final group, but youth can be impatient.
His game is more than just bling.
Woods first took notice of Kim last year during a practice round at the PGA Championship. During a delay on the sixth tee, he walked over and asked, ‘‘What do you think of Anthony Kim?’’ He clearly was aware the 23-year-old had some ability.
Dean Wilson, whose 67 put him in the group tied for third, played with Kim in the final round and saw a bright future.
Kim still had some work to do on the back nine. He saved par from a bunker on No. 14 with a 7-foot putt, the closest he came to a bogey throughout a soft, cloudy day. He spun a wedge back to 5 feet on the 16th for his final birdie, and as Jacobson was making a run, Kim made a nifty chip on the 17th to save par.
Tom Pernice Jr. had a one-shot lead, but twice went into the water and made double bogey. He had to rally with three straight birdies late in the round just to crack the top 10, closing with a 72.
Next up for Kim is the British Open, and while he has never played on a links course, he has rarely been this excited to play.
But when asked if he was the guy could challenge Woods over the next several years, Kim pulled back on the throttle, a rarity for him.