K.J. Choi Co-Leads SK Open

He cut as many as six shots in five holes.

He smiled after the second round because he never had such an experience in his long and tough golf career.

“Tank” K.J. Choi (Nike Golf) co-led the SK Telecom Open tournament sporting his skill at the second round of the Korea professional golf tournament in Sky 72 Golf Club, Incheon, on Friday.

On the previous day, he stopped short of cutting only one shot to tie in the 19th, but he had one eagle, seven birdies and one bogey with an eight-under 64 the next day, tying with Kim Hyung-sung with the medium result of a nine-under 135.

Choi had birdies in the second and third holes and got a fantastic eagle in the fourth hole and had continuous birdies in the fifth and sixth holes.

He said, “I liked the eagle in the fourth hole most and it served as a turning point. It was the first time I made birdies and eagles in five holes in a row.”

He had a 320-yard driver tee shot at the fourth hole or the dogleg hole (596 yards) on the slope on the right and hit with the fifth wood with 242 yards away. The right side of the green was surrounded by water hazards and there was a strong wind, but his second shot landed four meters away from the pin and he made successful eagle putts.

A bogey at the ninth hole was his only mistake as his second shot plopped into the pond.

“It was helpful to practice three to four meter putts intensively before the second round,” said Choi. “For the third and fourth rounds, I will practice one to two meter short putts and 10-15 meter long putts.”

Kim Hyung-sung, the lead on the first day, only reduced three shots in the afternoon round due to strong winds, allowing Choi a co-lead.

kjs0123@donga.com