SHANGHAI, China (AP) — Anthony Kim was disqualified Sunday from the HSBC Champions for playing with an altered driver.

Kim, a star in the United States' Ryder Cup victory over Europe two months ago, accidentally hit a sprinkler head as he tapped his driver on the ground while walking down the seventh fairway.

``I wasn't angry or anything, just walking down the fairway,'' Kim said. ``The toe hit the sprinkler, hit the top of the sprinkler, and I looked at it and it looked a little bit different. But I wasn't sure and I put it in my bag.''

At the eighth, he hit his first drive only 150 yards, and out of bounds. He then hit a second provisional shot - also poorly. He took a triple-bogey 8 on the hole and played two more before he found a rules official, who told him he must disqualify himself for playing with an altered club.

Kim was disqualified under rule 4-3b, said Andy McFee, European tour referee.

Kim had an 8-over 44 on the front nine, and parred the 10th hole. He entered the third round at 5 under - five strokes behind the leaders - with rounds of 66-73.

The HSBC Champions will be completed Monday after a delay caused by a rain washout on Friday and more rain on Saturday.

``I was pretty shocked,'' Kim said. ``But you know, the rules are the rules and I have no problem with that.''

In the last few weeks, Kim said he badly sprained his right ankle - falling down stairs at a friend's home - and also bruised his jaw while horseback riding.

Kim said he's played little golf in the last three weeks and has lived on a diet of noodles, unable to chew with the sore jaw.