Kim takes early control in swirling winds at Sawgrass

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.

COLD PUTTER

"Today was my best ball-striking round that I've had in the last six tournament days I've played," Kim told reporters. "But the putter was a little bit cold.

"I did my best to stay focused but the wind is playing havoc out there. I just tried to hang in there and make a lot of pars, and when I made a bad swing, tried to get out of there with bogey.

"I think the biggest thing that my caddie and I are doing well is we're picking a target and making sure that that's where we want to hit it," added Kim who bogeyed the par-four last after the missing the green to the right with approach.

"Whatever happens from there is what happens. I think that's the biggest key to playing in the wind."

Els, annoyed to triple-bogey the treacherous par-three 17th in the opening round after finding water off the tee, was in better spirits after posting a one-under total.

"If I take out two holes, I'm leading the tournament," said the three-times major winner, also referring to a double-bogey six at the fifth on Friday.

"My golf shots were a lot better today so I want to keep working. I think I'm on track."

The halfway cut was projected to fall at two-over 146 with former major winners Vijay Singh, Zach Johnson and David Toms among those in danger of missing out.

(Editing by Editing by Miles Evans)