PONTE VEDRA BEACH (Florida) - RISING American golf star Anthony Kim, who finished third at last month's Masters, will miss the US Open and possibly the British Open after undergoing left thumb surgery.

Kim pulled out of The Players Championship on Wednesday, a day after having the operation in Baltimore, Maryland, for a partial ligament tear suffered months ago that was causing shoulder problems due to overcompensation.

The injury is expected to keep Kim sidelined for between 10 and 12 weeks, so a return in time for the British Open in July at St Andrews is possible.

Kim fired a seven-under par 65 in the final round of the Masters to finish 72 holes at Augusta National Golf Club on 12-under par 276, four strokes behind winner Phil Mickelson and one shot behind runner-up Lee Westwood of England. -- AFP