JAPAN'S Joe Ozaki shot the day's low round of seven under par 65 to take the lead alone for the first time in his PGA career with a 10 under par after the second round of the Doral Ryder Open golf tournament yesterday.
In second place, at nine under, was Michael Bradley, following up an opening round of 64 with a 71 yesterday. Two strokes off the lead at eight under par were Greg Norman of Australia, who shot a 69, and Fiji's Vijay Singh, who had a 66.
Ozaki had seven birdies and no bogeys in his round, making six birdies in the stretch from the sixth to the 12th holes. He birdied all four of the par fives and sank a 50 footer on the par four 11th.
"Today I putted very well," Ozaki said. "Usually I miss them from five feet. Today I made them."
Ozaki (39), is the youngest of Japan's three golfing Ozaki brothers, and though he has won 25 tournaments in Japan his accomplishments are well behind those of his more famous brother, Jumbo Ozaki.
The only Japanese golfer to win on the PGA Tour was Isao Aoki at the 1983 Hawaiian Open.
"Winning here is so hard, I've almost given up," Ozaki said with a laugh.
Ozaki has given up full membership status in the Japan Tour to concentrate on the US tour.
Ozaki got his score in early, before the wind kicked up to push up the afternoon scores.
Norman, who played in the late windy conditions, said afterward. "I enjoy these types of conditions. They make you more patient and try harder."
Norman bogeyed the first hole, missing a four footer for par, but followed with four birdies, two of them tap ins from a foot.
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