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Kim, 23, rallies at Woods’ tournament

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From the Associated Press

Anthony Kim saved his diamond-studded “AK” belt buckle for the final round, then turned in a gem Sunday in the AT&T; National in Bethesda, Md., to affirm his status as a rising star.

Three shots behind going into the final round, the 23-year-old from La Quinta emerged from the pack with consecutive birdies around the turn at Congressional and closed with a five-under-par 65 for a two-shot victory over Fredrik Jacobson.

Kim became the first American under 25 to win twice in one year on the PGA Tour since Tiger Woods.

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Woods, the tournament host who is recovering from season-ending knee surgery, wasn’t around to see a game that he might have recognized. Kim is an explosive talent who wasn’t getting much out of his game until he dedicated himself more to practice than partying.

He eliminated the mistakes on a soft, cloudy morning at Congressional and fired at flags when it made sense. Kim stretched his lead to four shots on the back nine before Jacobson made a charge that came too late.

Kim, who won earlier this year at the Wachovia Championship, finished at 12-under 268 and earned $1.08 million, moving him to No. 6 in the Ryder Cup standings and closer to the top 10 in the world ranking.

That his second victory came at Woods’ event held special meaning for Kim, who idolized the world’s No. 1 player as a junior golfer.

“I would watch everything he did, every move he made, when I was growing up,” Kim said. “So to win his tournament is a true honor. I’m very excited.”

Jacobson, taken out of the mix early with a double bogey, ran off four straight birdies until he ran into trouble off the tee and in the bunker on the 18th hole, scrambling for a par and a 65.

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The consolation prize was a trip to the British Open as the highest finisher among the top five at the AT&T; National who were not already eligible.

U.S. Open runner-up Rocco Mediate also secured a spot at Royal Birkdale from a special money list.

Tommy Armour III shot a 69 and was among six players who tied for third at 271. Armour finished with six straight pars, when one birdie would have earned him a spot in the British Open over Mediate.

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South Korea’s Seon Hwa Lee birdied the final hole for a one-stroke victory over Jane Park and Meena Lee in the LPGA Tour’s NW Arkansas Championship in Rogers, Ark. Seon Hwa Lee closed with a four-under-par 68 to finish at 15-under 201.

Meena Lee (70) led by a stroke before coming up short of the green on the par-three 17th. Her chip was long, and she missed from about 10 feet for a bogey.

Seon Hwa Lee, playing in the group just ahead, hit her approach on No. 18 within three feet, setting up a birdie that she thought would put her in a playoff. Meena Lee had a chance to tie on 18, but missed a 15-foot birdie putt.

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Argentina’s Eduardo Romero won the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open in Endicott, N.Y., for his second Champions Tour title, beating Fulton Allem and Gary Koch by a stroke.

Romero shot a three-under 69 to finish at 17-under 199, equaling the score recorded by R.W. Eaks a year ago in the inaugural event. Romero also won the 2006 Tradition.

Local favorite Joey Sindelar (71) was within one shot of the lead entering the final hole, but his tee shot at No. 18 sailed into the right trees and he made double bogey to finish in fourth at 14-under 202.

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