Kim keeps lead in Tour Championship, but Garcia pulls into second

9/27/2008

Thanks to the cup, the Tour Championship finally might be worth watching.

No, not the FedExCup.

Six days after Anthony Kim routed Sergio Garcia in the opening singles match at the Ryder Cup, two of golf's most dynamic young players square off again in the third round at East Lake.

Kim had to settle for a 1-under 69 on Friday after making bogey from the bunker, giving him a two-shot lead over Garcia and putting them in the final pairing Saturday at the Tour Championship.

This is not match play. There are 36 holes remaining. At stake is $1.26 million, not a 17-inch gold trophy to share. Besides, it was only a month ago that they played together the first two rounds of the PGA Championship.

Even so, the fact they are playing together so close to the Ryder Cup figures to bring the Tour Championship to life.

Kim was at 7-under 133, and while he will have a 2-up lead of sorts on Saturday at East Lake, the momentum might lie with Garcia. He was 4 over through his first six holes of the tournament, rallied for a 70, then followed that with nearly flawless play for a 65.

Not to be forgotten was Kim's tag-team partner from the Ryder Cup -- Phil Mickelson, who ran off five birdies over the last seven holes for a 68 that put him three shots behind.

And there's more at stake than just a big check and an elite title for the winner. Mickelson, Garcia and Kim are the top contenders to win the Vardon Trophy for the lowest adjusted scoring average on the PGA Tour.

They were among six players in the 30-man field who managed to break par over two days, joined by Camilo Villegas (66) at 2-under 138, and K.J. Choi (70) and Mike Weir (69) at 139.

Ernie Els played in the final group with Kim and was trying to stay with him until pulling his tee shot into the water on the 17th and taking double bogey, sending him to a 71 to finish eight shots out of the lead.

Leaderboard – Round 2:

1. Anthony Kim                   USA  64 69 133 - 7
2. Sergio Garcia                   ESP  70 65 135 - 5
3. Phil Mickelson                 USA  68 68 136 - 4
4. Camilo Villegas               COL  72 66 138 - 2
5. K.J. Choi                        KOR  69 70 139 - 1
    Mike Weir                       CAN  70 69 139 - 1
7. Ben Curtis                       USA  71 69 140   E
8. Robert Allenby                 AUS  75 66 141 +1
    Ernie Els                          SAF  68 73 141 +1
    Trevor Immelman            SAF  68 73 141 +1
    Andres Romero               ARG  73 68 141 +1

Source: PGA Tour, Ota Doležal