Choi's strong finish earns AT&T lead
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2011 AT&T National | Day Two | 02 Jul 2011
K.J. Choi has bounced back from the disappointment of a missed cut at the US Open at Congressional Country Club to lead the AT&T National event at the Arnomink Golf Club through 36 holes. Interestingly Choi is a previous winner of this event having won at Congressional in 2007.
Choi birdied five of his last six holes in today’s second round to burst from the pack and grab the lead from a group of four golfers who are two shots behind. Bo Van Pelt, Chris Riley, Justin Leonard and Charlie Wi are Choi’s nearest chasers at present.
After his round Choi explained his disappointing effort at the US Open where was a previous winner at Congressional and in good form he was expected to do well. “It wasn’t an injury or anything like that, it was just fatigue from travelling to Korea and back, and then with the consecutive tournaments, playing Byron Nelson — I went from TPC, Korea, Byron Nelson, Memorial, then like five days off and then U.S. Open. So it was more jet lag more than anything.”
Adam Scott shared the lead after his first round of 67 but faltered early in his round on day two when he double bogeyed his 5th hole. He actually slipped to 3 over for the day before two late birdies has him within striking distance heading into the weekend. He is just four behind Choi and in a share of 10th position.
“I found out it was a little tougher today,” said Scott. “I didn’t play quite as well as yesterday, and it’s not easy chipping around the greens. The rough is thick and you have to be quite precise. Overall I’m in good position. Just need to stay with it, with the leaders tomorrow, and put myself in the mix Sunday.”
Robert Allenby improved with a second round of 68 to be in 21st position, Geoff Ogilvy is 50th and Rod Pampling 66th.
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