Anthony Kim in limelight after Wachovia Championship victory

The 23-year-old earned $1,134,000 and became the youngest winner since Sergio Garcia in 2002.

Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Knee surgery prevented Tiger Woods from attempting to defend his Wachovia Championship title. Anthony Kim didn’t disappoint fans at Quail Hollow Club looking for Tiger-like brilliance.

In a near flawless performance Sunday, the 22-year-old Kim became the youngest winner on the PGA Tour in six years. Following monster drives with flagstick-hitting approach shots and steady putting, Kim shot a 3-under 69 to cruise to five-shot win over Ben Curtis.

The former NCAA freshman of the year at Oklahoma won’t turn 23 until next month. But he dominated a star-studded field by finishing with a 16-under 272 total, three shots better than the previous tournament record held by Woods.

“I’m a little bit numb right now, but that walk up 18 was the best feeling of my entire life,” Kim said. “I’ll never forget that feeling. I had chills going up and down my spine. I want to recreate that as many times as possible now, so I’m really going to work hard.”

Kim earned $1,134,000 and became the youngest winner since Sergio Garcia won his third PGA Tour title in the 2002 Mercedes Championship.

Kim brought memories of Garcia, but for a different reason, when he strolled to the first tee Sunday with a four-shot lead and no PGA Tour wins. Garcia blew a six-shot lead at Quail Hollow in 2005 and lost in a playoff to Vijay Singh.

“I was actually pretty comfortable. I thought I’d have a couple more butterflies in my stomach at the first tee,” Kim said. “I felt pretty calm and confident about my game.”

It showed. Kim birdied the first and fifth holes to pull away from playing partner Heath Slocum, who shot a 73 and finished at 8 under.

“Anthony played great,” Slocum said. “From the get-go he put his foot on the gas and never let off. That was very, very impressive.”

LPGA

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — Paula Creamer squandered another late lead but came out with a playoff victory Sunday in the SemGroup Championship, beating Juli Inkster and ending Lorena Ochoa’s four-tournament winning streak on the LPGA Tour.

Creamer had control at Cedar Ridge until a bogey on the 18th hole for the third straight day gave her a 1-over 72. Inkster poured in an 18-foot birdie putt for a 70 to force a playoff for the second straight year.

They finished at 2-under 282.

Creamer, who lost in a playoff last week to Annika Sorenstam, missed a 12-foot birdie putt for the win on the first extra hole, but made from 8 feet on the next hole, No. 10, to avoid what would have been a devastating loss.

Inkster, 47, was trying to become the oldest winner on the LPGA Tour. She also lost in a playoff last year at Cedar Ridge.

Ochoa, trying to tie the LPGA Tour record with her fifth straight win, started the final round eight shots behind and never got it going. She closed with a 69 and tied for fifth, five shots behind.

Champions Tour

LAKEWAY, Texas — Denis Watson birdied the final hole Sunday to win the FedEx Kinko’s Classic, taking advantage of Nick Price’s back-nine errors.

Watson, from Zimbabwe, closed with a 3-under 69 to finish at 10 under. He earned $240,000 for his second victory of the year and fourth overall on the Champions Tour.