The Associated Press

BETHESDA, Md. — Anthony Kim is regaining a lot of his strength and a little of his swagger. He can only hope his record start Thursday at the AT&T National will allow him to get rid of some frustration built up from a year of not winning.

Kim ran off eight birdies over his final 13 holes and set the course record at Congressional with an 8-under 62, giving him a two-shot lead over tournament host Tiger Woods, Bryce Molder and D.A. Points.

The 24-year-old Kim has not won since his victory in the AT&T National last year, slowed by an assortment of injuries that caused his game to slip just as he was being anointed the next great American player. It was the best round of his PGA Tour career, although Kim walked off the par-5 ninth green slightly perturbed after narrowly missing a 10-foot birdie putt. Apparently, eight birdies wasn’t enough.

But it was enough to hold off Woods, who missed his tournament last year after having season-ending knee surgery. Woods played in the afternoon with deceptive wind swirling from trees lining the fairways. He missed only two fairways and three greens, and made enough putts for a 64, his lowest round since the 2007 Tour Championship.

Steve Elkington had a 65 on a day of exceptional scoring in relatively soft conditions from overnight rain in the Washington area.

U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover had a 69.
Pressel among Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic leaders

SYLVANIA, Ohio —  Morgan Pressel, Song-Hee Kim and Laura Diaz shot 7-under 64s to share the first-round lead in the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic, a stroke ahead of Michelle Wie and Suzann Pettersen at Highland Meadows.

Pettersen aced the 154-yard third hole with a 7-iron.

Cristie Kerr, Inbee Park, Jiyai Shin, Lindsey Wright, Jee Young Lee and Minea Blomqvist had 66s, and top-ranked Lorena Ochoa was in a group at 67. Defending champion Paula Creamer withdrew because of a thumb injury moments before her morning tee time.

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