Kim Pulls out of Dubai

Citing mental and physical fatigue, Anthony Kim has pulled out of the Dubai World Championship in two weeks, even though he had qualified.

Kim, who lost to Ross Fisher in the 36-hole final match in last week's Volvo World Match Play Championship, said he thought his focus in the next few months would be better served preparing for the 2010 PGA Tour season.

"I wasn't quite ready to play, physically or mentally, at the beginning of the PGA Tour season. I feel like part of the reason was because I did waste a lot of my energy playing in the off-season last year, and I didn't feel like I had time to recover," said Kim of his winless 2009.

"I think that's why I was getting injured a lot more because I wasn't taking care of my body as well because I was obviously playing more internationally."

With his withdrawal from Dubai, Kim won't be able to vie for the $7.5 million bonus pool. His second-place finish to Fisher moved Kim up to No. 39 in the Race to Dubai standings on the European Tour. After already playing in 11 events to meet the minimum required, Kim earned a spot in the 60-man Dubai field that ends the European season.

"I'm not going," Kim told the Associated Press Wednesday at the HSBC Champions in China, where he was among the final players to arrive due to visa troubles that caused him to spend all of Tuesday in Hong Kong getting his travel papers in order. "I need the week off," he said. "My parents want to see their boy."

Kim has been involved in an around-the-world odyssey over the past few weeks, a journey that hasn't ended. After competing on the victorious U.S. team in the Presidents Cup in San Francisco, the 24-year-old flew to Spain for the World Match Play. Next week he will play in the two-day Kiwi Challenge exhibition in New Zealand, followed by a few days of sightseeing before returning to America. His last event of the year will be the Chevron World Challenge on December 3-6 in California, an event that Tiger Woods hosts.

Kim traveled extensively earlier this year; in February, he flew to Malaysia and Australia. "Next year, I just want to be prepared for our season," he told the AP. "The PGA Tour is my home tour, and it's where I need to play well. I've made it my priority to play well in the States. I was all over the place this year. I didn't do a good job of scheduling. Scheduling is half your job as a pro. I learned a lot this year."

Kim is hoping the pared-down travel schedule will help him regain focus and lead to his third victory since joining the PGA Tour in 2006. Still, he plans to continue playing in Europe.

"Even if they don't have a Race to Dubai next year, I'm still going to sign up for European Tour membership," Kim said. "There's a different vibe out here, and it's good to experience it. I just need to do a better job with my schedule."