Anthony Kim cannot seem to get career out of bunker

Injury and poor form have dogged the world No 210's time on the course.

Anthony Kim was once a Ryder Cup star but has lost form since. Lenny Ignelzi / AP Photo

Anthony Kim attributes his poor form to nagging injuries – the left thumb that was operated on in 2010 and cost him a spot on the Ryder Cup team, right elbow, right wrist. There is no structural damage and nothing to keep him from playing, although he is losing practice time. And it shows.

Kim has completed only two of the nine tournaments he has played. He has missed the cut four times. He was disqualified after opening with a 78 at Riviera in California. He withdrew from his last two tournaments, after a 79 in the first round at Houston and midway through the opening round in San Antonio after he hit a 5-iron out of bush without realising there was a rock next to his ball. Kim said the ball went 200 yards and the rock went 15 yards.

His caddie emptied his locker at the Texas Open when he pulled out. Kim did not feel like facing other players who would see him leaving a tournament far too early.

He is No 210 on the money list with US$33,960 (Dh124,725). In his first five seasons on the PGA Tour, he averaged $107,585 per tournament. If he doesn't turn it around soon, Kim is in danger of losing his card.

He is well aware of this. It's one thing to hear it from the players. Kim even heard from his mother.

"My mom told me, 'Hey, there's a caddie that said he made $60,000 caddying at my club. The caddie stays at home and works four days a week. He's made $60,000. You've only made $30,000'," Kim said. "I couldn't do anything but laugh." Laughter for Kim has been rare this year.

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