South Korean K J Choi moved to the brink of his first US PGA title following a career best day with a one-under-par 71 to lead the Compaq Classic in New Orleans by one stroke. Choi has never bettered a fourth place finish in 73 career starts on the US tour but has a slight advantage of breaking that duck ahead of fast charging Americans John Rollins and Bryce Molder.
Choi had never before led a PGA event after 54 holes, but sank three birdies and two bogeys at the $4.5 million PGA event on Saturday. “I will pray, I will eat well, I will sing songs and I will have a good sleep”, he said through an interpreter.
First round leader Dan Forsman was fourth at 206, one stroke ahead of Billy Andrade and two ahead of five others, including Geoff Ogilvy of Australia. Modler, last year’s US college player of the year, charged into connection with a 69 in just his 10th PGA even. The 23-year-old could be the leading danger to Choi’s first career success after he was mistake free on the front nine with three birdies.
Filed by James Shortt
