Syndicated Thumbnail Navigation player featuring a selection of clips taken from Golf Bug TV. For use on the Golf Today website. http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1175881076http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=495713462 RELATED STORIES The Masters home page Wetterich and Clark lead at halfway Singh and Yang make the cut at The Masters Choi enjoys seeing familiar faces at Masters ASIAN GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Ben Leong claims maiden victory PGA: Jeev and Wi tie for ninth Prom targets Thai win in Brunei Shin Ji-yai takes Women's British Open Asian Tour starts 2nd half on a high Norman to play 2009 Johnnie Walker Mission Hills to host AP Summit GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Paul Azinger names US wildcards Faldo chooses Casey and Poulter Havret gains wire to wire Gleneagles win Sluman clinches First Tee Open with closing 67 Fallout continues over LPGA "English" rule Poulter chooses high risk Ryder Cup strategy

Choi makes the cut after another brutal day at Masters

Korea's Choi Kyung-ju survived a brutal day at the Masters Tournament on Friday, saying Augusta National was playing its toughest in his fifth visit to the year's opening Major.

The Asian stalwart carded a second successive three-over-par 75 to lie in tied 33rd place on six-over-par 150, eight shots behind co-leaders Brett Wetterich of the United States and Tim Clark of South Africa.

With fast and firm conditions prevailing over a wind-swept Augusta National, scores soared in the 71st edition of the Masters and claimed several victims including Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia and Colin Montgomerie who all missed the halfway cut of eight-over-par 152.

"It was a hard day, even harder than yesterday. In the afternoon, the winds became stronger and you couldn't stop your second shot. It was difficult to control your game. The greens are now firmer and faster. On 17, I was on the top of the green and hit my putt so gently but it went five feet past the cup and I missed the putt coming back," said Choi, who has won four times on the US PGA Tour.

Third here in the 2004 Masters, Choi feels that this year's course conditions have provided a ferocious test to the elite field. A cold front has been forecasted to hit Augusta National with temperatures dipping to five degrees Celcius on Saturday.

"I think this week's Masters is the most difficult that I've encountered since playing in this tournament in 2003," the Korean said.

"I'm playing well. I made only four bogeys which was better than yesterday. In these conditions, you just want to get on the greens. You need to hit good tee shots, good irons and chip well.

"I'm looking forward to the weekend. I have to try to be more accurate with my driver and also putt better. Hopefully I can shoot a couple of under par scores," he said.

With India's Jeev Milkha Singh, the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit winner last season, in tied 15th place after adding a 75 to his opening 72 and compatriot Yang Yong-eun also safely making the halfway cut in 27th place, Choi lauded them for their successful debuts.

"For three of us to make the cut this week, I'm very impressed with them. It's good for the game in Asia," said Choi, who was the first Asian Tour graduate to find success on the US PGA Tour.

April 6, 2007