Worldwide Golf

AFTER missing a short putt for victory in regulation, Anthony Kim made a par in the first extra hole to defeat Vaughn Taylor and pick up his third PGA TOUR title at the Shell Houston Open.

Kim had a six-footer for par on the final green but charged it left of the hole and settled for a 2-under-par 70 meaning Taylor – who was in the clubhouse on 12-under-par after a 68 – was back in which a chance of winning.

Kim played the first play-off hole - the 18th - in regulation, reaching the par-4 in two strokes while Taylor was in trouble off the tee and found a greenside trap with his approach. He splashed out to 18 feet but missed his par putt leaving Kim a tap-in for par and the title.

The win solidified something of a turnaround in Kim’s mental approach as he admitted he wouldn’t have been happy after missing that putt in regulation earlier in his career.

“Two years ago, my bag may have been in the water,” he said. “I might not have had clubs to go to the play-off. But I just feel calm out there, I feel no sense of urgency. It’s something that's happened naturally and not something that’s been forced. I’m comfortable with who I am out there. I found my identity.

“I just look back at last year, after the season was over, I was just complaining about everything. I felt like I deserved to win a golf tournament without trying. That's not how it is. I’ve put in a lot of hard work, so I feel like when I’m out there, I know I’m going to do well. Having that confidence really has propelled my game, I feel like, to a different level.”

South African Charl Schwartzel (67) and Canada’s Graham DeLaet (68) finished a stroke back on 11-under with Shaun Micheel (65) a shot further behind in fifth place, his best result since 2007.