NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — If seeing the putts drop for birdie were not enough, K.J. Choi noticed his gallery growing and getting more excited for him yesterday at Aronimink in the AT&T National.
“I started feeling that . . . I’m working toward a special round,” Choi said.
With five birdies over his last six holes, Choi shot 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, Charlie Wi, Justin Leonard and Bo Van Pelt.
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.
Despite the lead, there were plenty of contenders. Twenty players were separated by five shots going into the weekend.