Kim and Villegas share lead at Honda Classic

Published Sat, Mar 06 10 07:03 AM

American Anthony Kim fired a sparkling six-under 64 to grab a share of the lead with Colombia's Camilo Villegas after the second round of the Honda Classic on Friday.

Kim notched seven birdies and a single bogey to share the day's lowest round on a cool but calm day at the PGA National Champions course in Palm Beach Gardens.

"I'm very happy with the way I played the last two days, not just today," Kim told reporters. "Hopefully I can stay on this path, my game is starting to show signs of life."

Kim joined Villegas on an eight-under total of 132 after the in-form Colombian set an early target by returning a four-under 66 for the second straight day.

Former world number one Vijay Singh finished one stroke adrift after shooting a 66.

The big Fijian had looked headed for a rough day after back-to-back bogeys on the fifth and sixth holes but played flawless golf the rest of day to sit alone on seven-under 133.

Singh, playing free of the back and knee pain that plagued him last season, was unlucky to miss a share of the lead after rolling in a monster 65-foot birdie putt on the 17th, but leaving a 12-foot birdie hanging on the lip on 18.

American Jerry Kelly is two off the pace after a five-under 65 while a group of five are three back including overnight leader Nathan Green of Australia (70), Canada's Mike Weir (64) and Briton Graeme McDowell who was handed a costly penalty after his round.

After landing his tee shot on the 18th in shallow water, McDowell attempted to blast his ball out but grazed the surface on his back swing. He informed officials and was penalised two strokes to leave him at three-under 67.

"It's a two-shot penalty so it's a bit of a bitter-sweet end to the day ... It could have been Sunday and that would hurt a lot more but I've got all weekend to repair the damage."

Yang Yong-eun, who claimed his first PGA crown at last year's tournament, saw his title defence end dismally when he missed the three-over cut by six shots.

The South Korean's even par 70 was not enough to recover from his horror opening round of 79.

Source: Web Search