Kim withdraws from Vegas citing thumb injury

text size

LAS VEGAS -- Anthony Kim withdrew from the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open on Wednesday due to his nagging thumb injury.

Kim had surgery to repair a partially torn ligament at the base of his left thumb on May 5. The three-time PGA TOUR champ missed three months of competition before returning at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational.

Kim tied for 76th in Akron, then missed his next four cuts. He has not played in the month since he tied for 48th at the BMW Championship and finished 41st in the FedExCup.

The decision to have the surgery during the season was not an easy one for Kim. In a five-tournament stretch prior to the operation, the 25-year-old had won the Shell Houston Open in a playoff, finished second at The Honda Classic and placed third at the Masters.

Kim opted for the surgery, though,in order to have a chance to make his second Ryder Cup team. He ranked second in the standings when he had the operation but fell out of the eight automatic qualifiers when he missed the cut at the PGA Championship.