Anthony Kim was considered one of the top rookies on the PGA TOUR in 2007 and his fifth place finish at the Wells Fargo Championship played a key role in the attention he would receive by season's end.
Perhaps it was only fitting that his first TOUR victory would come at Quail Hollow a year later. Kim, confessed he was somewhat immature during 2007 and started the 2008 season with more focus and a better work ethic. Those new ideas were necessary as he joined a list of Wells Fargo Championship winners who possess those same qualities.
Looking Back at the 2008 Wells Fargo Championship
At the age of 22, Anthony Kim became not only the youngest champion of the Wells Fargo Championship, he became the youngest first-time champion on TOUR since 2001.
On Saturday, the Los Angeles native broke from the pack with a flawless six-under-par 66, giving him a four-shot lead heading into the final round. The highlight of the round came on Quail Hollow's toughest hole, the 478-yard, par-four finishing hole. Kim pounded a 324-yard drive down the fairway, then stuck a pitching wedge to six feet and made the putt for birdie. His playing partner Jason Bohn called the round, "almost Tigeresque."
What followed on Sunday was one of the most dominating performances in the tournament's six-year history. Kim needed only 11 putts as he recorded four birdies on the first nine holes and pushed his lead to seven shots. On the par-4 9th hole he found a fairway bunker off the tee and had to lay up. However, his approach shot hit the flagstick and he saved par.
Coming home on the back-nine, he did record two bogeys on the final three holes as several champions of the Wells Fargo Championship have done so before. However, he still finished five shots ahead of former British Open champion Ben Curtis and broke Tiger Wood's tournament record with a 16-under 272 score.