Anthony Kim to skip Dubai World Championship
By DOUG FERGUSON
SHANGHAI (AP) - Anthony Kim says he will not be going to the
Dubai World Championship to compete for the $7.5 million bonus
pool, even though the American has easily qualified.
Kim reached the final of the World Match Play Championship last
week in Spain before losing to Ross Fisher, allowing Kim to move up
to No. 39 in the Race to Dubai standings on the European Tour. He
already has played 11 events to meet the minimum required, assuring
him a spot in the 60-man field to end the European season in two
weeks.
But his road to Dubai is taking a detour.
``I'm not going,'' Kim said Wednesday evening on the practice
range at the HSBC Champions, where he was among the last to qualify
and the last to arrive due to visa troubles that forced him to
spend all of Tuesday in Hong Kong getting his papers in order.
``I need the week off,'' he said. ``My parents want to see their
boy.''
Kim looked weary as he hit balls with a headphone of music
attached to his left ear.
He played in Las Vegas a week after the Presidents Cup, then
flew to Spain for the World Match Play. Next week is the two-day
Kiwi Challenge exhibition in New Zealand, followed by a few days of
sightseeing before heading back to America. His last event of the
year would be the Chevron World Challenge on Dec. 3-6 in
California, which Tiger Woods hosts.
He has been all over the world this year - Malaysia and
Australia in February before flying to Arizona for the World Golf
Championship; then Spain, China and New Zealand in consecutive
weeks.
``Next year, I just want to be prepared for our season,'' he
said of the PGA Tour, where he failed to win this year. ``The PGA
Tour is my home tour, and it's where I need to play well. I've made
it my priority to play well in the States. I was all over the place
this year. I didn't do a good job of scheduling. Scheduling is half
your job as a pro. I learned a lot this year.''
Even so, Kim said he would not stop traveling.
He was among a half-dozen U.S.-based players who joined the
European Tour to take part in the Race to Dubai, which ends with a
$7.5 million tournament and $7.5 million bonus pool at the Dubai
World Championship. Only the top 60 on the money list qualify; Kim,
Geoff Ogilvy and Camilo Villegas were the only American-based
players who signed up for the Race to Dubai and will make the final
60.
``Even if they don't have a Race to Dubai next year, I'm still
going to sign up for European Tour membership,'' Kim said.
``There's a different vibe out here, and it's good to experience
it. I just need to do a better job with my schedule.''
Kim would not be replaced in the Dubai World Championship.
11/04/09 05:07
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