Anthony Kim learned a little about a concept called risk-reward Saturday at the Wells Fargo Championship.
Phrased differently, if less precisely, here's the life lesson Kim was taught: Sometimes you can squeeze a golf ball through several pine trees and make birdie; sometimes you can't and you end up with double bogey.
Kim, the tournament's 2008 champion, faced similar circumstances on the seventh and 16th holes during the tournament's third round at Quail Hollow Club. He'd end up shooting a 2-under 70 and be tied for seventh with four others at 5 under.
Kim is in decent position today, thanks to an unlikely birdie on No. 7 and despite a double bogey on No. 16, where he pinged his second shot off at least four trees after a dreadful drive.
"I'm trying not to think about it," said Kim of No. 16. "It's kind of a distant memory. I tried to hit a miracle shot - like I've been doing quite a bit. It worked on 7, so I thought, 'Why not, maybe I'll get lucky twice.'"
At No. 7, Kim pulled a 274-yard drive into a stand of trees to the left of the fairway.
Unable to see much of the green because of the trees, Kim pulled out a 3-wood and - rather than pitch safely onto the fairway - somehow guided the ball through untouched.
The ball landed just behind the green, but only 18 feet from the hole. Kim used his putter and made the birdie.
That kind of good fortune was still on his mind at 16, after he hit what he called his worst shot of the day off the tee. Again, Kim was in the middle of the pines.
"It was in the junk, let's say it very nicely," said Kim.
Again, he thought he could pull it off.
With fans packed around him, Kim wasn't so lucky this time. The ball rat-a-tat-tatted in the trees like a pinball on steroids before landing once more in the pine needles.
"I thought I'd do it again," Kim said. "On 7, I actually hit it through a tighter squeeze. It just didn't work."
The ball ricocheted quickly, buzzing bullet-like just past a woman's head.
A girl ran away from the scene, saying, "I am not getting hit. I am getting out of here."
Kim didn't tempt fate again. He pitched his third shot onto the 18th fairway, where his fourth shot was blocked by the bleachers at the 17th tee. He then took so long figuring out what to do that two groups playing No. 18 - Davis Love III, Greg Chalmers, Bo Van Pelt and Robert Allenby - walked past him.
Kim's fourth shot cleared the bleachers and the ball settled 20 feet from the hole. He missed his bogey putt.
Kim is four shots off the lead held by Billy Mayfair. He's playing one of his favorite courses. He likes his chances today.
"I'm having fun," he said. "I love North Carolina. I may just buy a house out here.
"This is my favorite tournament. Besides the majors, this is the one I'm most excited about coming to all year."