Golf-Open-Young guns run free as McIlroy pairs up with Kim

By Tony Jimenez

TURNBERRY, Scotland, July 15 (Reuters) - Two young hearts will be running free when Rory McIlroy joins up with Anthony Kim in the opening rounds of this week's British Open.

Briton McIlroy, 20, and American world number 15 Kim, 24, have played together several times already this season and expect to be feeding off each other again at the Ailsa Course on Thursday and Friday.

"I've got to know him pretty well in the majors," the 22nd-ranked McIlroy told reporters on Wednesday. "I played the first two rounds of the U.S. Masters with him and the first three rounds at the U.S. Open with him.

"I enjoy Anthony's company, we get on really well so I am sure we'll be having a bit of fun. It's a great draw.

"We'll probably be chatting a lot because the third member of the group is (South African Retief) Goosen and he doesn't like to chat much," added McIlroy.

The brilliant young Northern Irishman says he is keeping his feet firmly on the ground despite comparisons with Tiger Woods at the same age and the fact he has been tipped by many of his peers as a future world number one.

"I don't feel as if I'm any sort of superstar," said McIlroy. "I am just trying to play golf well."

However, the Dubai Desert Classic champion knows he has the game to take on all-comers and is not intimidated by the thought of playing alongside Woods later this week.