K. J. Choi
K.J. Choi of Korea remained in contention for his first Major win after posting a second round two-under-par 70 to take a share of third place at the Augusta National Golf Club.
Choi , together with Tiger Woods of the United States, is three shots behind leader Rory McIIroy of Northern Ireland after totalling a two-day score of seven-under-par 137 and hopes that he can become the first Asian to don the green jacket this week.
"Just look at what Asian players have done recently. As they have an opportunity to play more in the Majors, they learn and realise what they need to do,” said Choi who finished third at the Masters in 2004 and tied for fourth 12 months ago.
"Their names pop up on the leaderboards at any given day. They just need to keep their composure for four days. It's only a matter of time," added Choi.
Choi picked up where he left off on the opening day, when he had had two birdies and two bogeys through 12 holes, but birdied five of his final six.
The Korean birdied holes two, four and six. After a bogey on the par-three 12th, he recovered that shot with another birdie on the par-five 13th.
"There's no room for small mistakes and I'm not just referring to the shots you hit on the golf course. The Masters is more than that. I failed to do that last year during the final round. I just need to be 100 percent focused to the very last shot and the last hole on Sunday and stay patient,” said Choi.
Y.E Yang added a 72 to his opening 67 to stay five shots behind Mcllroy in tied-seventh.
India's Arjun Atwal, who is making his first appearance in The Masters, made an early exit after posting scores of 80 and 71.
