Anthony Kim tees off the on the18th tee during Wednesday's last practice round before Thursday's opening PGA Championship round. Journal Register News Service/DOUG BAUMAN

No pressure there.

So far, Kim has managed quite well.

This season, his second on the PGA Tour, the young Californian has won two tour events and is 15th in the World Golf Rankings. He's also locked up a spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team, and this week he is considered one of the favorites in the 90th PGA Championship at Oakland Hills.

"I think it's a great golf course for him," said Adam Schriber, Kim's instructor. "I like our chances this week. It's a very long golf course. First of all, I don't think there's a bad golf course for him, I really don't. I just think there's a bad golf course for other players."

"I think some of the players are going to struggle because of the length of this course. When he's on, driving it long and straight is one of his greatest strengths, and certainly if you can do that out here," Schriber added.

Admittedly, Schriber is biased.

He first met Kim at the age of 10, when they spent an afternoon working on the kid's game. Then a few years later, Kim started working with Schriber five or six days a week.

"When I went to Adam when I was 15 years old, I had some pretty poor mechanics, and I think we went back to the fundamentals and what I was doing wrong and definitely reshaped my whole golf game and my golf swing," Kim said. "All we are looking for is for it to be repeatable. Whether it looks pretty or not, it doesn't matter, as long as we can make sure that that 7-iron is going 175 (yards) and it's going relatively straight, that's all we care about."

Schriber, who is director of the junior elite golf program at Crystal Mountain near Traverse City, said he could spot Kim's talent at a very young age.

"You can tell that they're special. You don't know what they're going to do with it. You see a lot of talented kids, but what they do with it it's up to each individual. ... This kid has made a lot of good choices, he's worked really hard. He's made some mistakes, he's learned from them, it's part of the deal," Schriber said.

Even though Kim is just 23, Schriber describes him as an "old soul."

"You don't see 22-year-olds sit there after a $1.6 million (rookie) year and say, 'Hey, I screwed up here, here and here. I want to change.' I think he's special that way. A lot of people would have been satisfied with his rookie year. He was very much not satisfied," Schriber said.

The only knock on Kim seems to be that he needs to grow up a little bit. The kid has no argument with that assessment.

"I feel like I have come a long way, but at the same time, there's a lot of growing up that I need to do, and I'm working my hardest to get there. I feel like I'm making the right strides in my life on and off the golf course to be the best player and person I can be. At the end of the day, that's all I can ask of myself," Kim said.

He said having the same instructor for nine years has definitely been one reason for his success. It's not just the swing or the practice sessions that define the relationship between Schriber and Kim.

"Before I consider him a golf coach, I consider him part of my family. He's been there for me in hard times and encouraged me when things were going poorly. He's really been a dear friend. To keep this relationship going and be successful at the same time feels wonderful," Kim said.

Now it's down to business this week.

Kim feels like he's coming off three disappointing weeks.

He finished tied for seventh at the British Open, then tied for eighth at the Canadian Open. During his second round in Canada, he shot a 40 on the front nine and a course-record 29 on the back. Last week, he tied for 36th at the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio.

"I guess last week, the most disappointing part was not being prepared like I wanted to be for every tournament this year, and that was really disappointing," Kim said. "But I've had a couple good practice sessions and I feel like I know what I'm doing wrong now, and all I've got to do is think positive and go out there and make some birdies."

Like his teacher, he thinks Oakland Hills fits his game.

"It puts a premium on driving, and that's what one of my strengths are. I feel like I get the ball in play and I can hit it out there a good way. From there, I can attack more than play defensive golf," Kim said.

"Obviously at majors, par is -- you want to make more pars than bogeys, and pars are better than at a normal event. So I'm definitely going to try to pick my spots and play more strategically this week, and hopefully that will get the job done," he added.

Kim speaks with the grace of a veteran. And plays like one, too.

His idol is Tiger Woods who, obviously, made an impact on the golf world at a young age.

It takes more than just a solid golf swing and a consistent game.

Schriber thinks one reason that Kim has found early success is that he's an athlete who has also played basketball and football.

"I think the fact he's been a team-sport athlete, I think it gives him a little more heart. You learn to dig down for your buddies, past what you do for yourself, when you're playing team sports," Schriber said. "That comes in handy when he's playing golf, plus I think the determination, the work ethic, I think there's something to that."

Now he faces another huge test.

The PGA Championship is just Kim's fifth major. He sees it as an open field and expects quite a few contenders on Sunday.

Could he be one of them?

"If I get a couple bounces my way and play some good golf, I don't see why I couldn't," Kim said.