Just on a year ago Anthony Kim headed to Augusta riding high at No. 14 in the world in capturing the Shell Houston Open.

And while he’s still heading to Augusta on Sunday night, Kim tees-up in the defence of his Houston title having dipped to No. 41 in the rankings.

Anthony Kim - Defending Shell Houston Open Champion

The 25-year old Kim defeated fellow American Vaughan Taylor to capture only his third PGA Tour title.

The Korean-American became only the fifth player in 30 years to have won three times on the PGA Tour before turning 25, and joining Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott.

But a right thumb injury that necessitated surgery hampered the rest of Kim’s season last year so much so the Dallas-based golfer also failed to qualify for the Ryder Cup in Wales.

Kim drove from his home in Dallas to Houston on Tuesday for a ninth tournament of the year with a season-best of sixth January’s Farmers Insurance Open.

Anthony Kim - Looking to again stand tall in Houston

And after a recent session with his coach, it’s a matter of getting back to the ‘basics’.

“The last four to five days my coach came down to Dallas and we worked really hard on changing a few things and really tried to get back to basics,” said Kim.

“I told him when he first got to Dallas I don’t want to work and put Band-Aids on my swing.  I want to get down to my grip, my posture, to everything that many beginning golfer would start with.

“That really helped me get me back in the mindset of playing golf again and enjoying being out there instead of just trying to put Band-Aids on hooks and trying to hit big slices to keep it on the fairway.

“Last year in winning here I got away with hitting 30% of the fairways and I’m going to try to hit a couple more this year and see how it pans out.”

Kim tees up alongside England’s Lee Westwood and Phil Mickelson in one of the star three-balls over the first two days.