Choi moves into lead at The Barclays

2007-08-24

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HARRISON, New York (Ticker) -- K.J. Choi had very little trouble following up on a strong start.

Choi is the clubhouse leader at $7 million Barclays Classicafter carding a 5-under 66 in Friday''s second round.

Building off an opening-round 64, Choi stands at 12-under 130,two strokes ahead of Rich Beem.

The Korean started on the back nine at the Westchester CountyClub''s West Course, notching one of his four birdies at No. 10.He also eagled the par-4 eighth before giving a shot back onhis final hole.

First-round leader Rory Sabbatini is four shots back along withSteve Stricker after managing an even-par 71.

Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and Sergio Garcia are in a group offive at 6-under.

Mickelson, who has finished no better than 32nd since winningthe Players Championship in May, is the only member of thatgroup still on the course, making the turn in 34. The BarclaysClassic is the first leg of the inaugural FedEx Cup playoffseries.

There is plenty of incentive since a $10 million bonus will beawarded to the points leader of the series played over fourstraight weeks, ending with the Tour Championship in Atlanta.

One player missing among this week''s 144 entries is world No. 1Tiger Woods, who has cited fatigue following a busy summerschedule. He won the PGA Championship two weeks ago at steamySouthern Hills.

Each tournament in the series features a $7 million purse and a$1.26 million first prize. The other tournaments in the playoffseries are the Deutsche Bank Championship, the BMW Championshipand the Tour Championship.

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