Choi fires, Scott falls Golf Tips

Choi fires, Scott falls

July 1, 2011, 6:07 am

KJ Choi’s brilliant course-record six-under-par 64 catapulted him into the lead of the ATT National in Pennslyvania but Australian Adam Scott has fallen back to a share for ninth.

The South Korean equalled the course record, moving to seven under par for the tournament, and has now built a two-shot lead over a group of four golfers, comprising his compatriot Charlie Wi and American trio Chris Riley, Justin Leonard and Bo Van Pelt.

Scott, who started the day in a share of the lead, shot a one-over 71 to drop back to a tie for ninth at three-under and four shots behind Choi.

Hunter Haas, who also had a share of the lead after day one, dropped back into the field after a 74 left him in a tie for 32nd.

Of the other Australians after Scott, Robert Allenby is the next best at one-under after shooting a strong 68 on day two, while Geoff Ogilvy (two-over) and Rod Pampling (three-over) just made the cut for the weekend.

Choi was delighted with his round at the Aronimink Golf Club, but maintained the couse had still been extremely challenging.

‘(I’m) very happy today at six-under par, and a total of seven is very good,’ Choi said.

‘This course is very difficult, and the iron shots are very hard on the greens and very tough over the greens to make par.’

‘So when I heard that I tied the course record, I felt very happy…(I am) very pleased about that.’

The platform for Choi’s round was built on a stunning front nine.

After he made par on the first three holes, he launched into a four-hole hot streak where he made a birdie at every opportunity.

The crowd following him continued to swell as Choi appeared on the verge of making history at the course and another birdie on the par four ninth gave him five birdies in six holes and saw him go around the first nine in just 30 shots.

A slight blemish on the 11th saw him produce his only bogey for the day, but Choi kept composed and added two more birdies on the 15th and 16th to complete a brilliant round of golf.

But while Choi broke away early, Riley finished incredibly strong and will test the Korean over the weekend.

He produced five back-nine birdies including three in a row from holes 15 to 17 in his four-under 66, while Wi and Van Pelt also scored a 66 for the day, with Leonard shooting a 67.

American quartet Charles Howell III, Bryce Molder, Jeff Overton and Kyle Stanley are all three shots off the pace at four under, with Stanley’s five-under 65 impressive, while a shot further back in a tie for 10th are Rickie Fowler, Joe Ogilvie and overnight co-leader Scott.

The cut was also decided, with some of the big names to miss out including Colombian Camilo Villegas and Americans Jim Furyk and Boo Weekley.

Golf Tips