Owen, Furyk, Howell pounce as Choi falters at Heritage golf

England's Greg Owen and Americans Jim Furyk and Charles Howell seized the joint halfway lead on seven-under 135 Friday, as overnight leader Choi ballooned to a 74.

"Yeah, the fatigue is setting in right now," said Choi, who tied for fourth with Tiger Woods at the Masters last week.

Choi had played all four days at Augusta National with Woods, whose every move was the subject of scrutiny after the American's five-month layoff in the wake of a lurid sex scandal.

"But no excuses today, I had a tough time reading the greens," said Choi, who fell three off the pace.

Furyk carded a 68, Howell shot a 67 and Owen fired a 69 to take a one-shot lead over a group that included Australian Stuart Appleby and two-time Heritage champion Boo Weekley.

Furyk is trying to put a disappointing Masters performance behind him, having missed the cut at Augusta.

At least it left him fresh.

"I didn't play enough to get tired," said Furyk, who missed the Masters cut for just the second time in 14 appearances.

He tried to put a good spin on the disappointment, staying late on Friday to attend a party with friends and sponsors before taking his wife, Tabitha to a "Monday After the Masters" outing put on each year by pop group Hootie and the Blowfish.

"Had a great time and met a bunch of great people," he said. "I got my practice in but also blew off some steam and when I got here I was in a great frame of mind and ready to go to work."

Furyk birdied the 13th and 15th holes from inside 10 feet and caught Choi when he chipped in from just off the green at 16.

Choi teed off on 10 just as Furyk was finishing, and was in trouble early.

He drove out of bounds on the 11th, then put a tee shot in the water at 14 en route to bogey.

He made a double-bogey six when he failed to get out of a bunker on 18.

He played his last nine holes in even par.

"I'm not that far behind," said Choi, who is seeking his first PGA Tour win since 2008.

Howell tied Furyk with a birdie on 18, where he sank a 22-foot putt from off the green.

"Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good," he said.

Owen, who started at the 10th, got to seven-under with a two-foot birdie at the par-five fifth, the last of his four birdies on the day.

Weekley, who won here in 2007 and 2008, carded a 68, marking the first time this season he has opened with two rounds under 70.

Appleby, playing here for the first time since 1998, notched a 67, his lowest round of the year.

"Maybe the claustrophobic feel of the course makes it a bit sharper with your targets," he said.

South Korean 18-year-old Byeong-Hun An, the US Amateur champion, made the cut with a round that included an eagle on the par-five 15th.

© Copyright AFP Agence France-Presse GmbH - All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed. All reproduction or redistribution is expressly forbidden without the prior written agreement of AFP.