Kim Is Poised for Another Run at the Top

He Trails Perry By Two Strokes After 2nd Round Of the Players

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., May 9 -- Anthony Kim wasn't happy following a sloppy bogey salvaged with a tricky seven-foot putt at the 18th hole Friday in the second round of the Players Championship. But the 22-year-old Kim said this week that after a freakish life-threatening accident sent his longtime girlfriend to the hospital last month, no amount of bad fortune on a golf course is worth losing his composure.

As a rookie a year ago, Kim was known for throwing clubs and temper tantrums, as well as a penchant for partying instead of practicing. Long conversations with several veteran tour players, including Mark O'Meara, apparently resulted in a major offseason attitude adjustment. And when Lisa Pruett had to be rushed from their apartment to a Dallas hospital with a deep gash on her foot after stepping on a glass beer mug resulted in a severe loss of blood, Kim said, "I realized a bogey doesn't mean that much; it's not life or death."

Pruett survived that night, though doctors told her another 30 minutes and she could have bled to death. She also insisted Kim play the following week, and he tied for second in the Heritage at Hilton Head. Last week at the Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, he won by five shots for his first career victory, and after Friday's wind-blown second round, the Los Angeles native once again was well-positioned to make a weekend run.

With his second straight 70 and 4-under-par 140 total, Kim was in fifth place, just two shots off the 36-hole lead of 6-under 138 posted by 47-year-old veteran Kenny Perry (70) on a day Perry later described as "a test of survival" at TPC at Sawgrass, which was buffeted by swirling 20 mph winds that often gusted to 35.

Sergio García (73), who led after the opening 18 holes with a 6-under 66, had a one-shot lead entering the venue's infamous 140-yard island green 17th. But a double-bogey 5 pushed him back into a tie for second with 50-year-old Bernhard Langer (67) and journeyman Paul Goydos (71), all at 5-under 139.

García, who hit all 14 fairways, still had a chance to tie Perry for the lead at the 462-yard 18th when his second shot from the fairway stopped seven feet from the hole. But his left-to-right birdie putt sliced inches right of the cup, and he had to settle for par.

"Unfortunately, these things happen," García said. "I paid the price."

Langer's round may have been the most remarkable of the day, considering he is a full-time member of the Champions Tour, where he has won twice and leads the money list. He also has a sore back that nearly forced him to withdraw earlier this week. But the former European Ryder Cup captain made an eight-foot eagle putt on the 532-yard second hole, added four more birdies in his next six and had a chance for a 29 until he bogeyed the 583-yard No. 9, settling for 31.

Langer cooled considerably on the back, though after barely avoiding a splashdown short of the 17th green, he made a twisting 60-footer for birdie, and equaled the lowest round he has ever posted at this venue in 23 appearances.

"I was 6 under after eight playing close to perfection, golf to perfection," he said. "Did everything right."

For many others, it was mostly everything wrong. When Charley Hoffman three-putted from 12 feet for double bogey at the 181-yard 13th hole, he threw his putter into the pond protecting the green and had to use a wedge to putt his final five holes. He was 8 over on his last six, shot 83 and 15-over 159, last in the field.

Rich Beem was just five shots off the lead after 14, then put a ball in the water at Nos. 16 and 17 and two in the pond down the left side of 18. He played his last four holes in 9 over, including a quadruple bogey at 18, and came in with 80-152, five shots over the 3-over cut.