NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. (AP) - If seeing the putts drop for birdie were not enough, K.J. Choi noticed his gallery growing and getting more excited for him Friday at Aronimink in the AT&T National.
With five birdies over his last six holes, Choi had a 6-under 64 to match the lowest score in the two years the AT&T National has been played at Aronimink. It gave him a two-shot lead over Chris Riley (66), Charlie Wi (66), Justin Leonard (67) and Bo Van Pelt (66).
Another day of brilliant weather did little to ease the scoring conditions on this classic course in the Philadelphia suburbs. Choi simply made it look easy at the end of the round by keeping it in the fairway and giving himself good looks at birdie. Three of his birdie putts were from about 10 feet or longer, and he closed out his round with a wedge into 16 inches for one last birdie.
Choi, already having a big year with his win at The Players Championship, was at 7-under 133 going into the weekend. He won the inaugural AT&T National in 2007 when it was played at Congressional, so the calendar might be more relevant than the course when it comes to his good play at this event.
Montreal Championship
BLAINVILLE, Quebec (AP) - John Cook and John Huston shot 9-under 63s to match the course record and share the first-round lead in the Montreal Championship, the Champions Tour's lone Canadian event.
Cook, a two-time winner this year, and Huston, coming off his first victory on the 50-and-over tour, each had 10 birdies and a bogey on the Fontainebleau Golf Club course on Canada Day. They matched the course mark set last year by D.A. Weibring in the inaugural tournament.
Defending champion Larry Mize was two strokes back along with Joey Sindelar, Tommy Armour III, Jeff Sluman, Jay Haas, Dan Forsman and Lu Chien-soon.
French Open
SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France (AP) - James Morrison put aside the chronic stomach ailment and personal heartache, shooting a 5-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the French Open.
The Englishman almost skipped the tournament after having to go to the hospital Tuesday because of Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammation of the digestive tract that has bothered him for a decade. And his wife, Jessica, was diagnosed with a cancerous cyst last year, then had two miscarriages.
Morrison had a 10-under 132 total. Australia's Richard Green (68) was second.
American star Bubba Watson missed the cut, then suggested fan behavior and poor security contributed to his disappointing performance. Watson shot a 3-over 74 to finish at 6 over.