With Kim in the gallery, it's Han's turn to feel like a golf star

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Seung 'Su Han had the support of one of the hottest players on the PGA TOUR during the first round of q-school.

LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Seung 'Su Han knew his friend could find other ways to spend a leisurely Wednesday afternoon.

So that's what made having Anthony Kim in his gallery at the PGA TOUR National Qualifying Tournament mean so much to the 22-year-old from South Korea.

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Kim showed up on the 10th hole Wednesday and walked the final nine with Han, who opened with a 1-over 73 on the Stadium Course. The breakout two-time PGA TOUR champ also was there for 27 holes during his friend's practice rounds on Monday and Tuesday.

"It means a lot," said Han, the UNLV product who turned pro on Wednesday. "I actually felt comfortable when he showed up on 10. I was probably a little nervous going out. I was not comfortable over the ball. But it got better and better, and I trusted it more.

"It was really cool see him come out. I know he's got better things to do."

Kim, who is 23, and Han met about six years ago when both were talented juniors. "He used to beat me all the time," Kim said with a smile. Han perked up later when he heard that, smiling and saying, "I can still beat him -- not today, though."

Kim, who won the Wachovia Championship and AT&T National earlier this year, has a home nearby and remembered how much he appreciated friends showing up when he earned his TOUR card at PGA West two years ago. So he decided to do the same for Han.

"When I played here, I had some support, and I know that helped very much because I was a younger player just getting started," Kim said. "I'd like to see him do well. He's a really good kid, and hopefully he can get through."

Kim's caddie, Eric Larson, is toting Han's bag this week. The two talked about the possibility in June, and when Han reached the finals for the second straight year -- he did it as an amateur in 2008 -- he made the call. Larson was impressed with Han's resiliency after playing his first 10 holes in 3 over.

"He just had a few bad swings today," Larson said. "He hung in there. It's a difficult course. He got off to a good start and then missed a few short ones and hit one in the water. Other than that he played pretty solid. ... He made the finals as an amateur last year, which is a pretty good accomplishment in and of itself.

"He's working hard at his game and definitely has the capabilities of making it on TOUR."

Kim knows his friend has the game to play at the PGA TOUR level, too. Q-school is a six-round event, so Han has time to right the ship as he tries to finish among the low 25 and ties to earn his TOUR card. If he doesn't, Han will still have some degree of eligibility on the Nationwide Tour.

"It's the first day," Kim said. "It was a tough day. As long as he got through, and he's not in the 80s, he should be fine. It's a tough golf course. There's a lot of water out there. If he can just keep it dry and make a couple more putts -- which I know he's capable of -- it's going to be a positive week whether he makes the PGA TOUR or the Nationwide Tour."