Kim Takes AT&T National With Explosive Final Round Surge

July 7, 2008 2:50 p.m. EST

Orlando, FL (AHN) -- With Tiger Woods gone for the season, it has been up to the PGA tour field to produce some great, exciting golf to keep the TVs tuned in. 23-year-old Anthony Kim has stepped and answered this call, filling the Tiger void by belting out a round worthy of the finest praise - 3 birdies in 4 holes, to seize the lead, and not a single bogey slowed him down. No one could catch him.

The defending champion would have been Woods, but his knee surgery has made it impossible for him to compete for the rest of the year. Winning Wood's tournament was like a dream come true for Kim.

"It's huge for me," Kim said. "I grew up watching one video, and it was called Tiger's Triple when he won three U.S. Juniors and three U.S. Amateurs. To win his golf tournament is amazing. Because I idolized him growing up, it's so surreal for me to be in this position right now."

His victory does more than just win him a silver trophy - he is now officially sixth in Ryder Cup points. Should he remain in his position, he will be automatically taken onto the U.S Team.

"I don't want to let them down," Kim said. "so I'm going to keep working hard and hopefully I can be that Ryder Cup player and be the player that some people think I can be."

While Tiger wasn't at the tournament to personally congratulate him, a phonecall was made to the excited Kim, just before the trophy presentation. His message was simple, and clear: keep working hard, and the sky's the limit for you.

Any who saw the way Kim sank his teeth into the lead, and refused to give it up would have a hard time refuting that.