Kim stays patient, leads British Open

LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England (AP) - Christina Kim does not regard herself as the most patient of players, saying she's often teed off on the golf course.

But the American followed her father's orders to be patient Saturday, shooting a 1-under 71 to head into the final round of the Women's British Open in second place. She birdied the 18th hole to trail leader Catriona Matthew of Scotland by three shots.

"He said just to go out and try to be patient," said Kim of their phone call. "He said if any birdies come along, take them. But don't be too distraught if you make a few bogeys, and just take it one shot at a time. I'd like to think I heeded his advice pretty well today."

She finished with two birdies and one bogey.

Asked if she ever got in a bad mood on the course, Kim replied: "Oh, if you only knew. Absolutely, about every round I've had coming into this week."

Her naturally voluble personality on course owes a lot to Lee Trevino, the master showman of the men's game.

"Growing up, I watched Lee Trevino play a lot of golf and I thought, 'Man, that dude is cool,"' she said. "He wears his heart on his sleeve, his emotions run high and sometimes your emotions help push you to a better place in your golf.

"I've been known, even when I'm having a good day, to talk to myself. Then, I'll sit there and chastise and yell at myself or moan about anything. Moan, whine, anything like that."

Kim will play Sunday with Matthew and said the links course at the Royal Lytham and St. Annes Golf Club suits her rival.

"I think Catriona is a phenomenal player and she's got a bit of an advantage being Scottish with this kind of golf course," Kim said. "She's an absolute diamond and I adore her, so it will be a wonderful day. I'm really thrilled."

Kim lives in Florida where her home course, Grand Cypress in Orlando, was designed by Jack Nicklaus with a variety of links-style holes.

"So, I have a bit of links-style golf in me," Kim said. "And I've been coming over to this event for seven years, so I've played links golf a little bit. It's such a different type of golf here, carving shots into the wind and playing around the bunkers and using your creativity."

Which is why she needed her father's advice.

"Patience is a huge factor," she said. "I'm a big fan of instant gratification, but I'm learning."