Kim is looking for consistency in four rounds

Anthony Kim thinks his game fits well at Augusta National Golf Club, setting him up nicely to win the major championship he wants most.

Kim proved his point with a Sunday charge last year, using a 7-under 65 to finish alone in third place a year after he set a Masters Tournament single-round record with 11 birdies en route to a second-round 65.

"I think this course requires a good short game and some imagination, and I feel like those are my strengths -- grinding though some tough shots in some tough areas -- and hopefully I can be in a position to have that matter on Sunday," Kim said.

Clearly, his problem in two Masters appearances was not capability but consistency.

"I've learned if you hit some good shots, you'll make birdies and eagles out here," Kim said Wednesday. "I had a chance to win the golf tournament (last year), which felt great. It's been a dream of mine to come to Augusta and wear one of those green jackets leaving the property, so it was a great feeling. But I need to close and give myself a chance this year."

Kim has struggled with his finishing kick this year, failing to shoot an under-par final round since a 68 at the Sony Open in January. He fell back to the pack at last week's Houston Open, closing with a 1-over 73 after a second-round 64 made it look like he would contend .

Closing was not Kim's issue at last year's Masters, as his final-round 65 tied for the low round of the tournament and pushed him from ninth place to third, four shots behind champion Phil Mickelson. He might have cost himself the championship with a third-round 1-over 73, after a 68-70 start left him in third place at the midway point.

Similarly, his 65 matched the lowest score of the 2009 tournament and put him in sixth place at the midway point, but he dropped out of contention with a 72-74 finish that left him in a tie for 20th.

"It's time for me to get on my horse and start playing some good golf," he said.

Kim said Augusta National is a course where players need to know what spots to avoid as much as they need to identify spots to attack.

"You have to know where the trouble is," Kim said. "Usually you're trying to figure out where you're trying to hit it, but out here you're playing away from the trouble, trying to have some uphill putts and chips and hopefully make a couple putts along the way."

If he manages to cut back on the big scores that have cost him in his first two Masters visits, Kim knows, his game will put him in position to win the green jacket.

"I do love this place. It's very special to me and it's always been a dream of mine to come play and win this event," Kim said. "I gave myself a chance last year and obviously played OK my first year. It gives me great hope and good vibes going into this year."

Reach David Ching at david.ching@onlineathens.com.