Kim wins in PGA playoff

Associated Press

HOUSTON

Meet the new Anthony Kim.

Shrugging off a bad putt on the 72nd hole, Kim parred the first hole of a playoff with Vaughn Taylor to win the Houston Open on Sunday for his third PGA Tour title.

Kim and Taylor were tied at 12-under 276 after Kim missed a 6-foot par putt in regulation on the water-lined 18th hole to settle for a 2-under 70.

Not long ago, Kim said he would’ve mentally unraveled.

“Two years ago, that bag may have been in the water,” Kim said. “I might not have had clubs to go to the playoff. 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.”

Taylor finished with a 68. He needed a victory to qualify for the Masters next week in his hometown of Augusta, Ga.

“Hugely disappointed,” Taylor said. “It’s a tough pill to swallow.”

Charl Schwartzel (67) and Graham DeLaet (68) finished a stroke back at 11 under. Shaun Micheel (65) was two shots behind and Kevin Stadler (68) and Houston resident Jeff Maggert (70) finished four behind.

The 24-year-old Kim won for the first time since the 2008 AT&T National. He also won the Wachovia Championship in 2008.

Kim and Taylor played No. 18 again in the playoff and Kim made a routine 4, two-putting from 30 feet. Taylor hit a bad drive, played out of the greenside bunker and came up short on his 18-foot par putt.