ATLANTA—Overnight leader Anthony Kim shrugged off an erratic outward nine to grab a two-stroke advantage after the Tour Championship second round on Friday.
Four shots clear at the start of a steamy day at East Lake Golf Club, the 23-year-old American birdied two of the last nine holes to card a one-under-par 69.
In pursuit of his third PGA Tour victory this year in the final event of the regular season, Kim posted a seven-under total of 133.
Spaniard Sergio Garcia briefly joined Kim at the top of the leaderboard after making a sizzling start before bogeying the par-three last for a 65 and second place at five under.
American world number two Phil Mickelson was a further stroke back in third after piling up five birdies in the last seven holes for a 68.
"I still hit it pretty well, I just didn't get the putts to fall," Kim told reporters. "I just wanted to keep grinding out there.
"It's a tough golf course and I know nobody is really going to shoot 61 out there and really jump on anybody. So it was a good day."
Significant Role
Kim, who played a significant role in the U.S. Ryder Cup victory over Europe last week, briefly stretched his lead to five when he struck his approach to four feet at the par-four first and knocked in the birdie putt.
Although he stumbled with a three-putt bogey at the second, he picked up another shot at the par-four fourth as he rolled in an eight-footer.
Kim was then three in front of Garcia who had birdied four of the first seven holes.
The Korean-American made another error at the seventh, pulling his drive into the left rough en route to a bogey five, before Garcia closed to within a stroke when he birdied the par-five ninth.
Kim dropped another shot at the eighth, where he three-putted from 40 feet, before reaching the green in two at the ninth and two-putting for a birdie four.
He raised his game after the turn, picking up strokes at the 10th and 12th to forge three ahead before bogeying the last after hitting his tee shot into a bunker.
