Kim holds nerve to win at Sawgrass

Si Woo Kim of South Korea became the youngest winner of the Players Championship with a game and nerves well beyond his 21 years.

On a TPC Sawgrass course in Florida where anything can go wrong without notice, Kim was the only player to go bogey-free yesterday and closed with a three-under 69 for a three-shot victory in golf’s biggest tournament outside the majors.

All that could stop him was the final two holes, when Kim had a two-shot lead and faced a tee shot to an island green, and then a closing hole with water all the way down the left side.

Kim hit the 17th green and twoputted from 45 feet, and he smashed another drive right down the middle.

The only drama at the end came from Ian Poulter, who was happy just to be here.

Poulter, who only two weeks ago was spared his full PGA Tour status because of a clerical oversight, was the only player to seriously challenge Kim - until he ran out of holes.

He pushed his approach to the 18th so far to the right that it caromed off hospitality tents and bounced off a cart path into a palmetto bush. He took a penalty drop, then hit wedge over the trees and nearly holed it, tapping in for par.

Poulter, who had gone 39 holes without a bogey until a crucial one at No.12, closed with a 71. He tied for second with Louis Oosthuizen (73).

Even though Kim only hit eight greens in regulation through the back nine, he went six straight holes without facing a par putt over two feet. Kim bumped a fairway metal to just over three feet on the final hole and rapped in the par putt to being the celebration.

‘‘I still can’t believe I’m the champion, and I’m the youngest champion,’' he said. ‘‘I’m looking forward to working hard from now on.’'

This victory comes with perks beyond the NZ$2.74 million first prize. Kim now gets a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour, and a three-year exemption to the Masters.

The previous youngest champion of The Players was Adam Scott, who was 23 when he won in 2005.

Kim becomes the second player from South Korea to win the event, joining KJ Choi in 2011.