Arjun Atwal's baby needs new shoes

Arjun Atwal of India hits from a sand trap near the ninth green during the second round of the Zurich Classic in Avondale, Louisiana on Friday. Atwal leads by one stroke. PHOTO: AP

India's Arjun Atwal is trying to keep a low profile in the Zurich Classic. It won't be easy if he keeps playing this well.

"I don't think people know who I am and don't expect anything," Atwal said. "So even if I mess up, they are just going to say I wasn't expected to win. I'm just going out there and play my game and see if I can handle it or not."

The 32-year-old Atwal, a two-time winner on the PGA European Tour, shot a 4-under 69 in windy conditions Friday to finish the second round at 11-under 133. He had six birdies and two bogeys on the TPC of Louisiana, the Pete Dye-designed course in its first year as the tournament site after a 16-year run at English Turn.

J.J. Henry (67) was a stroke back at 10 under.

"It was another kind of stress-free day to be honest with you," Henry said. "I feel real comfortable on this golf course. I like the way most of the holes fit. I'm driving the ball well, my ball striking has actually been great for the last couple of weeks, and my putter is finally catching up.

"I'm surprised at how low the cut is, 1 over. I mean, a golf course that nobody is familiar with. The wind blew probably steady for two days at 20-plus miles an hour."

Atwal, playing on a sponsor's exemption, lost a playoff early this month in the BellSouth Classic for his best finish of the year. Last season, he made only 12 cuts in 30 events and finished 146th on the money list with US$486,052.

"Our baby was coming along," Atwal said. "We had no family in America at the time, so every time I missed a cut or was close to making a cut, I wasn't even thinking about the cut. I was thinking of going back to my wife and taking care of her. As soon as the baby came along, I started doing well again."

Chris DiMarco, playing in his first event since losing a playoff to Tiger Woods in the Masters, had a 71 to join Tim Clark (69) at 8 under. Lucas Glover (68) was 7 under, and defending champion Vijay Singh followed his opening 67 with a 71 to join long-hitting Hank Kuehne (69) and Richard S. Johnson (68) at 6 under.

DiMarco, tied for the lead after the first round, had an inconsistent round that included an eagle, four birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey.

Liselotte Neumann shot a 5-under 67 Friday to take the lead in the soggy second round of the Franklin American Mortgage Championship.

Neumann, who opened with a 72, moved to 5-under 139 in the rain-plagued event.

Mexico's Lorena Ochoa, the defending champion, was at 5 under through 11 holes and was one of 73 players who were unable to complete their second round at the Vanderbilt Legends Club's Ironhorse Course because of rain for the second straight day. South Korea's Han Hee-won is also at 5 under through 10 holes, and six players are at 3 under.

Curtis Strange shot a 5-under 67 Friday to take a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the FedEx Kinkos Classic.

Strange had six birdies and one bogey at The Hills Country Club, taking an opening-round lead for the first time since the 1998 Doral Ryder Open in Miami.

"I'm taking baby steps right now," said Strange, who is playing in just his sixth Champions Tour event. "But I'm starting to get my golf legs under me."

Brad Bryant and Mark Johnson each shot 68s, and Joe Inman, Jim Thorpe and Bruce Fleisher were another stroke back.

World No. 3 Ernie Els enters the final day of the Asian Open with a five stroke lead after firing a four-under-par 68 in the third round yesterday.

Els offset six birdies with three bogeys Saturday to move to a three-day total of 19-under-par -- still well clear of the pack at the par-72 Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club.

England's Simon Wakefield shot six birdies against one bogey for a six-under-par 66 to cruise to second place at 14-under, followed two strokes back by Thomas Bjorn of Denmark with 68.

Eddie Lee of New Zealand shot a 69 to finish at 10-under.