t is the closest that 22-year-old 2nd-year pro Anthony Kim has come to putting teeth into his Big Cat boasts. In the end, though, Kim showed that he needs more experience to take the edge off the brash, go-for-broke instincts that may well have cost him the three strokes that might have put him in contention for first.
Steady Boo Weekley cruised to his second straight Verizon Heritage Championship, shooting an even-par 71 for a three-shot victory over Kim (71) and Aaron Baddeley (69).
A year ago, Weekley needed miraculous chips on the 71st and 72nd holes to edge Ernie Els by a stroke. In this one, Weekley took a three-shot lead into the final round and watched it grow by mostly staying trouble free, and seeing competitors struggle to try and catch up.
''It was a lot easier than last year, wasn't it?'' a smiling Weekley said to his group on the 17th hole after his routine par.
Kim trailed by three at the start and, paired with Weekley, was in the best spot to pressure the leader. But Kim's chance at a first PGA Tour title disappeared with a double bogey on the par-4 ninth.
Still, the 2nd-place finish, the highest to date in Kim's 1 1/2 years on the PGA tour, should take the edge off what had been a disappointing start to the year. After winning $1.5 mil. last year as the youngest rookie in PGA history, Kim had missed the cut in three of his last four tournaments. But he did earn $295,800 with a tie for third in January at the Bob Hope Classic, his first tournament back from a two-month hiatus. His performance at Harbour Town should sustain the buzz that, at 22, Anthony Kim has a colorable claims to being the new next Tiger Woods.
Jim Furyk, ranked ninth in the world, was the hardest charger early, cutting a six-stroke deficit in half with three birdies in the first five holes. Furyk, though, fell back with a bogey on the 11th.
He shot a 69 to finish fourth, his third top-five finish in the past four Verizon Heritages.
No one else, including former Verizon Heritage champs Baddeley and Stewart Cink, could make a run at Weekley.
''I just struggled,'' Weekley said. ''I reckon everybody struggled.''
Not that Weekley didn't add his own pizazz to the round. He made bogey on No. 8 after botching a chip, then looked in trouble on the 10th with a difficult pitch over a bunker. And Weekley killed it _ right into the cup for a birdie that put him up by five.
Weekley grinned as the gallery chanted his name over and over.
He did it again four holes later, slam dunking a 30-footer for birdie from the fringe that if it didn't hit the cup might have rolled into the water off the edge of the peninsula green.
Again, the crowd ate it up as Weekley pumped his fists in celebration.
Weekley earned $990,000, and a second straight invitation to the Masters. He tied for 20th at Augusta National to miss qualifying for 2009.
The even-par finishing round ended Weekley's string of seven rounds here in the 60s.
Weekley's the first with consecutive victories here since five-time winner Davis Love III in 1991 and 1992. The late Payne Stewart (1989, 1990) was the only other to go back-to-back at Harbour Town's history.
Both those stars had played this tournament several times before that success. Weekley just teed it up here for the first time last year.
Perhaps more important for him, Weekley can revel in his Harbour Town title for another year.
He's charmed the galleries with his ''Hee Haw'' demeanor in a country club world full of starched collars and hushed tones.
He proudly calls himself a redneck. He chews tobacco at times during his round. ''It's just a habit,'' he says. ''It's a bad one, but it's a habit.''
Weekley's just as likely to rake a bunker or give a ball to a young fan _ as he did to one adorable blonde pre-schooler during Saturday's round _ as to shoo away autograph seekers.
What would you expect from some one who got his nickname from Yogi Bear's cartoon sidekick, Boo Boo.
It's clear that Weekley knows Harbour Town better than your aa-ver-age golfer.<
Divots:@ Davis Love III was in line for his first top 10 on the PGA Tour since last August. However, the five-time Harbour Town winner played the back nine in 6-over 41. He finished tied for 36th. ... Nick Dougherty withdrew before the final round due to a family illness. The Englishman had been nine shots in back of leader Boo Weekley after three rounds.
04/20/2008 05:59 PM
By PETE IACOBELLI AP Sports Writer
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.
Anthony Kim reacts to his tee shot on the sixth tee box during the final round of the Verizon Heritage golf tournament Sunday, April 20, 2008, at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, S.C. Kim made a birdie on the hole.
(AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain)
t is the closest that 22-year-old 2nd-year pro Anthony Kim has come to putting teeth into his Big Cat boasts. In the end, though, Kim showed that he needs more experience to take the edge off the brash, go-for-broke instincts that may well have cost him the three strokes that might have put him in contention for first.
