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Kim disqualified for altering driver
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-11-09 14:02 SHANGHAI, China -- Anthony Kim was disqualified Sunday from the third round of the HSBC Champions tournament for altering the face of his driver.
Kim, 23, was a star of the United States' Ryder Cup win over Europe two months ago, and has won twice this season on the US PGA tour. However, he was injured entering the Shanghai tournament -- battling a sprained ankle and a sore jaw. Kim said the incident took place on the No. 7 fairway, where he was tapping his driver on the ground as he walked and accidentally hit a sprinkler head. At the 8th, he hit his first drive only 150 yards, and out of bounds. He then hit a second provisional shot -- also poorly. "I wasn't angry or anything, just walking down the fairway," Kim said. "The toe hit the sprinkler, hit the top of the sprinkler, and I looked at it and it looked a little bit different. But I wasn't sure and I put it in my bag." He took a triple-bogey 8 on the hole and played two more before he found a rules official, who told him he must disqualify himself for playing with an altered club. Kim was disqualified under rule 4-3b, said Andy McFee, European tour referee. Kim had an 8-over 44 on the front nine, and parred the 10th hole. He entered the third round at 5-under -- five strokes behind the leaders -- with rounds of 66-73. The HSBC Champions will be completed Monday after a delay caused by a rain washout on Friday and more rain on Saturday. "I was pretty shocked," Kim said. "But you know, the rules are the rules and I have no problem with that." In the last few weeks, Kim said he suffered a badly sprained right ankle _ falling down stairs at a friend's home -- and also bruised his jaw while horseback riding. He said the horse raised up and as it came down, Kim's mouth slammed shut as his mount hit the ground. Kim said he's played little golf in the last three weeks and has lived on a diet of noodles, unable to chew with the sore jaw. |
