KIM IS STAYING HIGH AND DRY GOLF: HE IS TIED WITH THREE OTHERS FOR SECOND HEADING INTO FINAL ROUND.

Byline: Jill Painter

Staff Writer

PALM DESERT -- Anthony Kim thought about hurling himself into the water fountain Saturday at La Quinta Country Club.

It wasn't that it was too hot; rather, his putter had gone cold.

If he hadn't made a 10-footer for birdie on No. 6, he said, he would have gone for that dip. But after Kim made the putt, he raised both arms, shook his head and basked in the applause of his gallery.

Kim birdied his first four holes in the fourth round and finished with a 6-under 66 to move into a four-way tie for second at the Bob Hope Classic. Kim, along with Robert Gamez, D.J. Trahan and Kenny Perry, is four shots behind Justin Leonard, who shot a fourth-round 66 at the Classic Club.

Leonard eagled the 14th hole and birdied the 18th to extend his lead.

Kim, who grew up in Studio City, even had the outright lead -- the first of his young career -- at the turn. He wasn't aware of that until he was told by reporters.

"That's awesome," Kim said. "I wish I had it right now. But what can you say? I had a great day, and it was awesome to have a lot of friends out here pulling for me."

Kim's parents, who live at PGA West in La Quinta, weren't in his gallery Saturday. Like most parents, they get nervous, but they likely will be back today. Kim won't play in the final group of Leonard, Gamez and Trahan, but he'll be in the second-to-last group.

And Kim knows a lot about playing good golf on Sundays. In his rookie season last year, he had the seventh-best scoring average in final rounds at 69.8.

He saved his best for last at last year's Nissan Open at Riviera Country Club, where he shot a 64 and finished in a tie for ninth.

But unlike any of Kim's four top-10 finishes last year, this year he has a shot to win. He came from far behind to make the top 10 in the other tournaments.

"I think he lives for Sundays," said Sterling Ball, Kim's advisor.

Kim, wearing an orange shirt and checkered pants, put on a putting clinic on the front nine, where he needed just nine putts. Then he seemingly couldn't make a putt on the back nine and finished with 28.

Kim, playing in his first tournament of the year, has shown little sign of rust all week, except with his putter. He three-putted the second hole on the back nine from 45 feet. Then he missed a two-footer on No. 5. But he made an incredible shot through trees on the fifth, which was the more memorable shot, from the left rough.

"One option was to go right and chip out and have 190 (yards) in (to the hole)," Kim said. "But I could've made bogey. The other option was to hit a crazy cut shot. I've hit that so many times before hanging around with my friends. It happened to work."

After he missed the two-footer, he drove in the right rough on the next hole and slammed his driver on the ground. Still, he managed to make birdie when he made the 10-foot putt, avoiding the post-round swim.

Leonard and Kim, both Dallas residents, are friends. They share the same management company, and played together in the final round at Colonial last year. Kim's agent, Blake Smith, is the son of Randy Smith, who is Leonard's swing coach. The ties are endless.

When Kim was asked about the best advice he has gotten from Leonard, he said: "Save my money. Work hard. Things I already knew, but maybe needed to hear again."

Kim wasn't planning to spend Saturday evening pacing in a hotel room. He was scheduled to attend a fund-raising dinner held by Ball, his advisor/trainer/ sports psychologist.

After admittedly suffering through a funk last year, Kim seems happier and more playful. While waiting to hit Saturday, he chatted up several friends, smiled and talked with his amateur playing partners. When he was done with his round, he had about 50 text messages.

He plans to have fun today.

"I'll just take it shot by shot," Kim said. "It's been working so far."

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CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

Anthony Kim waits to hit on the fifth hole Saturday during the Bob Hope Classic. Kim is in a four-way tie for second place.

Chris Carlson/The Associated Press

Box:

FOURTH-ROUND LEADERS