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BETHESDA, Maryland : Defending champion Anthony Kim fired a tournament-record eight-under par 62 to seize the early clubhouse lead by two strokes on Thursday at the six million-dollar PGA National.
Two weeks past his 24th birthday, the Korean-American standout fired eight birdies, six in his last nine holes, on a record run that began on the 10th tee at rain-softened Congressional Country Club.
"I got off to a great start. I hit quality golf shots and made putts from 10 to 15 feet," Kim said. "I'd like to say it was just me playing fantastic golf, but I got a couple good breaks along the way and drove it pretty well overall.
"This course fits my eye. This is one of the few courses I feel like I get lucky at."
The former 18-hole event record was a 63 fired last year by American Tom Pernice and Australian Peter Lonard. The low prior first-round score was a 65 shot last year by home-area hero Steve Marino.
"I hope it's unique for my sake but the golf course is very soft," Kim said. "As the course firms up, this golf course is going to start to show its teeth."
Kim tossed down a challenge to world number one Tiger Woods, the tournament host and 14-time major winner who had a new record to chase before teeing off.
"I did play very well, but that man can go out there and shoot 60," Kim said. "I'm not really worried about what he's doing.
"All I can do is focus on myself. That was the difference. I focused on the shot I was hitting at the time and not the next shot."
Kim, two strokes ahead of American D.A. Points with half the field on the course, has not won since taking last year's National. He was hampered by shoulder and ankle injuries and a thumb sprain that only recently healed.
"It's still hard. Just because I shot 62 doesn't take away that bitter taste in my mouth when I'm not contending for tournaments," Kim said.
"I'm finally getting to that point where I feel like I'm going to be able to win every time I tee it up. It's not going to take anything crazy. It's just going to take solid golf."
Kim defied doctors' advice and played with the injured thumb, having to regrip his club on his backswing until recently being able to return to his normal swing. He considered the rewards worth the risk of greater injury.
"I wasn't going to sit," Kim said. "It was definitely an observation a couple doctors made that I should just rest it for four to six weeks and not play. But I didn't want to do that. I'm out here to get better.
"I'm sure those doctors are a lot smarter than I am. But pros play through pain and play through injuries. There was no doubt in my mind I was going to come out here, learn something along the way and keep grinding away."
Sweden's Daniel Chopra shared third on 66 with US veteran Jim Furyk.
Chopra, 35, was the first person to hit a golf ball off the Great Wall of China back in 1995. The son of a Swedish mother and Indian father grew up in India has eight missed cuts and two withdrawals in 17 starts this season.
"Off to a great start and making putts from everywhere," Chopra said. "I've been feeling better and better about my game the last couple months so this was a good round to get the confidence going." - AFP/de
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