Thursday, September 2, 2010

The Race To Dubai’s credibility suffered a body blow yesterday after rising American star Anthony Kim claimed he would be skipping the end of season Dubai World Championship.

The 24-year-old is currently 39th on the inaugural Race To Dubai, and was one of a number of Americans who  signed up to the European Tour this season with the $7.5m end-of-season shoot-out in mind.

Kim was beaten in the final of the Volvo World Match Play Championship last weekend in Spain by Ross Fisher, but is playing another European Tour event this week at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

The big-money Chinese event has drawn a star-studded field with Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson both at the Sheshan International Golf Club.

But despite playing the required number of events to take his place in the field at the Earth course on Jumeirah Golf Estates from November 19, Kim has opted to take a break rather than go for European glory. On the range, a weary Kim said: “I’m not going. I need a week off. My parents want to see their boy.”

Kim will sign up for another crack at the European Tour next season however, but admitted his main priority was the US Tour, where he has failed to win all season.

The American Ryder Cup star has been all over the world this season, and heads to New Zealand next week.

But he hopes to keep his roving brief in 2010 as he said: “There’s a different vibe out here, and it’s good to experience it. I just need to do a better job with my schedule. Next year, I want to be prepared for our season.

“The PGA Tour is my home tour, and it’s where I need to play well. I’ve made it my priority to play well in the states. I was all over the place this year. I didn’t do a good job of scheduling. Scheduling is half your job as a pro. I learned a lot this year.”