Choi in control

KJ Choi produced a spectacular front nine to charge to the lead halfway through the final round at the Memorial tournament today.

The South Korean gathered six birdies, including four in a row from the sixth hole, to go 16-under at the turn in benign conditions at Muirfield Village.

He parred the 10th to hold a one-shot lead over Rod Pampling, Adam Scott and Stewart Cink, all of whom had completed nine holes, with Geoff Ogilvy (10 holes) and Sean O’Hair (nine holes) two shots behind.

Pampling started the day with a three-shot lead, but he allowed his rivals back into the hunt by playing the front nine in just level par.

Choi, 37, a four-time PGA Tour winner, has endured a frustrating season, close to playing well without quite firing on all cylinders.

But those frustrations were turned aside as he birdied the first and third holes to gain some early momentum.

Then, at the par-four sixth hole, he sank a 10-foot putt, before making a tap-in birdie at the par-five seventh.

A fine tee shot at the par-three eighth led to a birdie from 12 feet, and he also hit a nice approach shot to the par-four ninth before sinking a six-footer.