PREVIEW-Golf-Kim aims to replicate winning attitude in Houston (Reuters)

HUMBLE, Texas, March 30 (Reuters) – Anthony Kim is still
amazed that he won last year’s Houston Open after a woeful
driving performance but he plans to play with a similar
attitude for his title defence this week.

Twelve months ago, the American ended a victory drought of
nearly two years on the PGA Tour when he beat compatriot Vaughn
Taylor in a playoff after putting superbly the whole week.

“I don’t know how it happened,” Kim told reporters at
Redstone Golf Club on Wednesday after being asked how he
managed to triumph in last year’s event.

“I did a lot of praying before I went to bed at night,
obviously,” he added, sparking guffaws around the room. “It was
just a culmination of good putting and a great attitude that
helped me win last year.

“I’m going to try to come in with the same attitude and
hopefully hit some better golf shots. Who knows? I could play
better this year and score worse. It’s a funny and fickle
game.”

A three-times winner on the PGA Tour who is known for his
immense natural talent, Kim conceded his game had suffered a
major setback last year when he missed much of the season due
to a thumb injury.

“I’ve had a lot of highs and a lot of lows,” said the
25-year-old, who was sidelined for just over three months while
recovering from thumb surgery. “But I’m trying to grow through
those times.

“I’m trying to build on certain things that when my game
does get in a bad position … I can be a better player from
it. I think this injury long-term will help me.

“My short game and my course management have gotten a lot
better. When my long game comes back like I know that it can,
I’ll be a more complete player.”

AUGUSTA CONDITIONS

As with many of his fellow players this week, Kim enjoys
the challenge at Redstone which has again been set up to
provide similar conditions to Augusta National for the U.S.
Masters which follows.

“The reason this tournament has a great field is because
the course is in such great shape and it really prepares you
for the Masters,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons I came
here a couple years ago and I’m keep coming back.

“Hopefully I’ll hit a couple more fairways than I did last
year,” Kim added with a smile. “I got away last year with
hitting 30 percent of my fairways and I’m going to try to hit a
couple more this year and see how it pans out.”

Four members of the world’s top 10 will tee off in
Thursday’s opening round at Redstone—second-ranked Briton
Lee Westwood and Americans Phil Mickelson (sixth), Matt Kuchar
(ninth) and Steve Stricker (10th).

Also competing this week are 2012 United States Ryder Cup
captain Davis Love III and his European opposite number, Jose
Maria Olazabal, who will make his first PGA Tour start this
year after battling a re-occurrence of rheumatoid arthritis.
(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Rancho Mirage, California;
Editing by Frank Pingue; To query or comment on this story
email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)