Ryder Cup standout Kim on fire at Tour Championship

ATLANTA (Georgia) (AFP) - Ryder Cup rookie sensation Anthony Kim was showing no sign of a letdown Thursday as he seized a four-shot lead in the US PGA Tour Championship.

Kim nabbed eight birdies in a six-under 64 as the seven million-dollar tournament began in testing windy conditions at East Lake.

Kim, one of six rookie members to take part in the United States' 16.5-11.5 victory over Europe in the Ryder Cup at Valhalla last week.

Kim had spearheaded the Americans' effort in Sunday's closing singles as he thrashed European Ryder Cup star Sergio Garcia 5 and 4 in the first match of the day.

The United States went on the claim the Cup for the first time in nine years.

"It took me a couple of days to get over that celebration we had on Sunday night, so I wasn't expecting too much," Kim said.

Four days on, however, Kim found himself with a comfortable lead in an elite 30-man field.