The US’ Anthony Kim closed in on his first PGA Tour victory of the season by charging one stroke clear in Saturday’s third round of the Greenbrier Classic in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
With his approach play in sparkling order, the long-haired Kim fired a sizzling eight-under-par 62 on the Old White Course at The Greenbrier to post a 10-under total of 200.
STRONG BACK 9
The three-times PGA Tour winner birdied five of his last nine holes to end a sunny afternoon in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains one ahead of compatriot Scott Stallings (66).
Long-hitting Gary Woodland carded a 67 to lie a further stroke back at eight-under par, level with fellow American Webb Simpson (69).
Kim was delighted to surge to the top of the leaderboard after missing much of last season because of an injured left thumb, which required surgery.
‘SMART SHOT’
“I was just hitting smart golf shots,” the 26-year-old told reporters after recording eight birdies in a flawless display. “I started hitting some fades off the tee, which on this course you need to do, and I made a couple of putts.”
“I hit the smart shot, sometimes not even going at a couple of pins, which is hard for me to do. I got away with some poor swings because of some good lines. Hopefully I can do that again tomorrow,” he added.
Kim, whose most recent PGA Tour victory came at last year’s Houston Open, made all of his birdies from inside 10 feet.
His 62 matched fellow American Jimmy Walker’s effort earlier in the day as the lowest score of the week.
NOTHING TO LOSE
“When I finished yesterday, I didn’t know if I was going to make the cut,” Walker said after surging up the leaderboard into a tie for fifth place at seven under with an eight-birdie display.
“[It was] kind of: ‘Hey, we’re here. I did it. Let’s go make the best of it.’ You got nothing to lose when you’re at the back of the pack,” Walker said. “I told my wife last night that I was just going to go out and attack and see what happens. It worked.”
Former Masters champion Trevor Immelman of South Africa, who began the third round one stroke off the lead, dropped six shots in his last six holes for a 73 to tumble back into a tie for 28th at three under.
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