Kim shoots 64 to lead Tour Championship

Golf Betting Lines

09/25/2008 - Atlanta, GA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Anthony Kim fired a six-under 64 to take the first-round lead Thursday at the Tour Championship.

Kim, a key player in the United States' win at the Ryder Cup last weekend, mixed eight birdies with two bogeys to take a four-shot lead over Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and Trevor Immelman.

"I feel very fortunate to be here," said Kim, one of just five players who broke par in the 30-man field. "And I want a good performance."

K.J. Choi had a one-under 69 and was alone in fifth place -- a shot behind Mickelson, Els and Immelman -- while Sergio Garcia and Mike Weir were tied at even-par 70.

Garcia, the only European Ryder Cup player in the field this week, was trounced 5 & 4 by Kim in the opening match of singles on Sunday, one of the surprises in a big U.S. win.

From one big event to another, this week marks the fourth and final event of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs.

Vijay Singh, a winner at the Barclays and Deutsche Bank Championship, will wrap up the FedEx Cup and its $10 million first-place prize as long as he can finish all four rounds this week.

Singh opened with a three-over 73, playing five-over par until he made back- to-back birdies at the 14th and 15th holes.

Camilo Villegas, No. 2 to Singh in playoff points, had a two-over 72. Villegas -- and any other player in the field, for that matter -- doesn't have a chance to catch Singh unless the big Fijian withdraws or is disqualified.

With no reason to believe that will happen, the second year of the PGA Tour's new playoff system is headed for an anticlimactic ending. And more possible changes to the format.

"I'm not sure I'm smart enough to be commissioner of this tour," said Immelman, "but I'm sure there'll be a few tweaks."

Kim, who ranks sixth in playoff points, took a two-shot lead with three consecutive birdies from the ninth hole, capped by a long birdie putt from the fringe at No. 11.

"I couldn't believe that," he said.

He faltered to a bogey at the 12th, but was still one ahead of Mickelson. A birdie putt at the 15th and a 19-footer for birdie at the 17th gave Kim his four-shot advantage.

A 23-year-old rising star on the PGA Tour, Kim picked up his first two PGA Tour wins earlier this season. Finding the greens at East Lake to his liking -- "You had to play a lot more break" -- Kim needed just 26 putts in his first round.

"I just try to get the feel in my hands when I get up there," he said.

Mickelson, after a middling performance at the Ryder Cup (he was paired with Kim three times), made a 23-foot birdie putt early in his round to tie for the lead. He held a two-shot advantage over four players after he rolled in a seven-foot birdie putt at No. 9.

But Lefty was done in by four bogeys on the back nine, including two on his last three holes.

"This is the last tournament of the year for me," said Mickelson, who ranks ninth in playoff points, "so I'm up for it."

Els had five birdies in the opening round, but also three bogeys. Four of his birdies came during a six-hole stretch on the back nine, including a nice approach to four feet at the 13th.

"That was the shot of the day for me," said Els, who is 21st on the points list.

Immelman, who has just one top-10 finish since his win at the Masters, mixed four birdies with two bogeys Thursday. He birdied the 15th to tie Els at two- under.

Along with Kim and Mickelson, eight other members of the winning U.S. Ryder Cup team made the field (only the top-30 players on the playoff points list were eligible).

But Steve Stricker, Justin Leonard, Jim Furyk, Chad Campbell, Hunter Mahan, Stewart Cink, Kenny Perry and Ben Curtis all finished over par Thursday.

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MySportsbook.com: NFL draft - The NFC South


In part two of MySportsbook.com’s draft preview, we’ll take a look at a division that was extremely disappointing last season: the NFC South.  Many “experts” predicted the Panthers to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, of course they could not even make the playoffs in an extremely weak NFC.  The Saints definitely made up for the disappointing seasons of their NFC South brethren by exploding out of no where en route to the NFC Championship game.  For the avid NFL gambler, it is imperative to pay attention to the NFL draft.  Although free agency gets a ton of publicity, the successful franchises build their teams around the draft.

1. New Orleans Saints
Who would have thought this time last year that the Saints would be the favorites to win the NFC South for the 2007 campaign?  New Orleans is loaded with firepower on the offensive side of the ball but with the exodus of Joe Horn they will most likely look to draft a WR on Day 1.  Despite having the NFL’s 3rd ranked pass defense last season, the Saints will most likely upgrade their CB’s with one of their first two picks. Other possibilities for the Saints will be TE and DT.  Because of where they will be selecting (27th), the Saints could go the “best available player” route which could net a LB.

Key additions: Eric Johnson TE, Troy Evans LB, David Patten WR
Key loses: Joe Horn WR,
Team needs: CB, WR, TE, LB, DT
Possible draftees: Aaron Ross CB Texas, Darrelle Revis CB Pitt, Ted Ginn Jr. WR OSU, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Chris Houston CB Arkansas, Greg Olsen TE Miami

2. Carolina Panthers
Carolina was one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL last season.  With the signing of David Carr, expect the very first quarterback controversy to come out of Carolina if Jake Delhomme doesn’t rebound quickly from an average 2007 season. With veteran safety Mike Minter getting up there in age, they will look to draft a safety on Day 1 but probably not in the first round.  LB is another need with the loss of Chris Draft to go along with Dan Morgan’s concussion problems.  If TE Greg Olsen is still on the board, he might be too good to pass up despite their needs on the defensive side of the ball.

Key additions: David Carr QB
Key loses: Chris Draft LB
Team needs: LB, TE, S, OT
Possible draftees: Greg Olsen TE Miami, Patrick Willis LB Ole Miss, Paul Posluszny LB PSU, Levi Brown OT PSU

3. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons were another NFC South team to have a disappointing 2007 season.  The Falcons have been plenty busy during the off season with plenty of players coming and going including a new head coach.  The Falcons were able to improve their draft position with the trade of coveted backup QB Matt Schaub.  High on the list of Day 1 needs will be a defensive end to replace Patrick Kerney and a hard hitting safety since Lawyer Milloy is nearing the end of his career.  With an additional 2nd round pick, the Falcons could attempt to trade up to acquire local product WR Calvin Johnson. 

Key additions: Joey Harrington QB, Toniu Fonoti OG, Joe Horn WR
Key loses: Justin Griffen RB, Patrick Kerney DE, Matt Lehr OG, Ashley Lelie WR, Matt Schaub QB
Team needs: DE, S, OT, WR, DT
Possible draftees: LaRon Landry S LSU, Amobi Okoye DT Louisville, Levi Brown OT PSU, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas, Alan Branch DT Michigan

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age really caught up to the Bucs last season.  The Bucs still have plenty of household names on defense in Ronde Barber, Simeon Rice and Derrick Brooks but the one thing those three have in common is unfortunately age.  It is imperative for the Bucs to get much younger, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Despite having bigger needs on the defensive side of the ball, WR Calvin Johnson is the most likely pick if he is still available when the Bucs pick at the four spot.  This would suit Bucs’ faithful just fine as Johnson is widely considered the top talent in the draft and it is a position of need for the Bucs.

Key additions: Jeff Garcia QB, Kevin Carter DE, Torrie Cox CB, Cato June LB
Key loses: Dewayne White DE, Sean Mahan OG
Team needs: WR, LB, DE, CB (Youth on defense!)
Possible draftees: Calvin Johnson WR Georgia Tech, Gains Adams DE Clemson, Jamaal Anderson DE Arkansas

It is never too early to start betting on the NFL. Log on to MySportsbook.com to checkout all of the NFL futures for the upcoming season.  On the clock: the NFC North

Odds to win the NFC South:
New Orleans Saints 8-5
Carolina Panthers 2-1
Atlanta Falcons 12-5
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9-2    

Odds to win the NFC:
New Orleans Saints 13-2
Carolina Panthers 7-1
Atlanta Falcons 20-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25-1

Odds to win the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints 18-1
Carolina Panthers 20-1
Atlanta Falcons 50-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 75-1

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