Kim takes early control in swirling winds at Sawgrass

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida (Reuters) - American Anthony Kim, the hottest player on the PGA Tour, defied swirling winds to set the early pace in the second round of the Players Championship on Friday.

Winner of last week's Wachovia Championship, the 22-year-old Los Angeles native fired a second successive two-under-par 70 to hold the clubhouse lead at four-under 140.

Kim, tipped by his peers as one of the brightest prospects in the game, piled up five birdies and three bogeys in humid, blustery conditions at the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass to finish a shot in front of playing partner Boo Weekley (71).

World number four Ernie Els also carded a 71 to lie a further two strokes adrift with fellow South African Retief Goosen (71) among a group of six bunched at level par.

Spaniard Sergio Garcia, two shots ahead overnight after opening with a sparkling 66, was tied for the overall lead at five under out on the course after covering the first four holes in one over.

Garcia, who ran up a three-putt bogey at the par-four first, was level with veteran German Bernhard Langer (after seven holes) and Americans Kenny Perry (five) and Paul Goydos (four).

Kim, who became the youngest winner on the PGA Tour in more than six years with a five-shot victory at the Wachovia Championship, made a fast start with two birdies in the first three holes.

He bogeyed the seventh to reach the turn in one-under 35 and mixed three birdies with two bogeys coming home as the winds gusted up to 50 kph.