'New Tiger' so grateful for taming by O'Meara

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Anthony Kim comes to his first Open Championship already being touted as "the new Tiger". And that is thanks in no small part to the reality check he got from O'Meara just before Christmas when the two men were unlikely team-mates in the Merrill Lynch Shoot-out.

At 50 years of age O'Meara, winner of two majors including the last Open to be hosted by Royal Birkdale in 1998, was considered to one of the game's wise old hands.

Kim, just 22, came saddled with a reputation for speaking his mind, often out of turn and laced with temper, and for spending more time in nightclubs than on the practice range.

A stellar amateur, Kim was in danger of wasting his talent now he had turned professional. But at least he knew it and he turned to O'Meara for advice.

It was a good decision. After all, O'Meara had taken the young Woods under his wing back in the mid-nineties and his mature influence was crucial in helping Woods go on to live the life of a champion. O'Meara recalled: "I just conveyed to Anthony, 'You've got as much talent or more than any other player I've ever seen besides Tiger'. And I believe that. So I laid it out for him. I said, 'Unless you don't like money and you don't want to win tournaments, then maybe you continue down that other road'.

"At 22 Tiger had already won six tournaments and I think Tiger's mental game was stronger. But technique-wise I reckon Anthony's swing was better at 22.

"He could win multiple tournaments a year easily and win major championships. That's how talented he is in my opinion."

O'Meara's dressing down transformed Kim, born in Los Angeles of Korean-American parentage. In May he won the Wachovia Championship and earlier this month he took the AT & T National to all but book a Ryder Cup debut for the United States come September.

"Mark's been tremendous," said Kim. "Spending that time with him at the Merrill Lynch Shootout, it was priceless because I learned so much and we developed a pretty strong bond.

"I've learned so much from him and I'm still learning. He just gives me the best advice."