CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (AFP) — American Anthony Kim became the youngest winner on the US PGA Tour in more than six years, capturing the Wachovia Championship in a rout on Sunday for his first PGA triumph.
The 22-year-old Asian-American took the 1.152 million-dollar top prize at the 6.4 million-dollar event with a final-round three-under par 69 to finish on 16-under 272, breaking the tournament record of 13-under set last year by Tiger Woods.
"I can't even put it into words right now. I don't know what to say," Kim said. "It's a wonderful experience."
Kim began the round with a four-stroke lead, stretched the margin to six strokes as he began the back side thanks to four birdies on the outward nine and cruised to the clubhouse without a serious challenge at Quail Hollow.
Former British Open champion Ben Curtis fired a 65 to finish second on 277 with American Jason Bohn on 278, Australian Robert Allenby on 279, Americans Dudley Hart and Heath Slocum on 280 and Jim Furyk on 281.
Aussies Rod Pampling and Adam Scott shared seventh on 282 with US veterans Stewart Cink and Fred Couples.
In his 38th PGA start, Kim qualified for next year's masters by achieving his breakthrough victory after sharing a pair of runner-up finishes, last month at the Heritage Classic and in the 2006 Texas Open, his first PGA event.
Kim opened with a birdie, added two more on the par-5 fifth and seventh holes and another at the eighth to put a stranglehold on the lead. He dropped a 25-foot putt at the seventh and a 20-footer at the eighth.
By the finish he could afford mistakes. Kim took a bogey at 13, answered with birdies at the 14th and par-five 15th but settled for bogey at the 16th and 17th before a par at the last hole.
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