K.J. Choi (Stats | Bio) compared his struggles on the back nine to studying for a final exam. That is how the South Korea native stayed positive while bogeying four of seven holes after taking a short-lived lead in the Masters Tournament.

A tournament record-tying performance on the front nine also helped to keep him confident.

Shooting 6-under-par 30 on the front nine in Friday's second round, Choi shot 70 to leave him in a fourth-place tie, three shots off the lead.

Of course, he ran over a few speed bumps on his way to the Clubhouse. Namely, Nos. 10, 11, 12 and 16, all of which he bogeyed.

Still, Choi - who tied Johnny Miller (1975) and Greg Norman (1988) for the tournament front-nine record - was pleased with Friday's performance. After all, he got in some good study time.

"I'm looking at it very positively," Choi said through interpreter Michael Yim. "It was a very good experience for me, especially Amen Corner. I think it's going to actually help me in the third and fourth rounds, the way I played the back nine. I thought even-par would be a good score. But finishing at 2-under, I feel very lucky."

With the way he played before the turn, every other Masters competitor should feel lucky that Choi isn't making an early appointment for his green jacket fitting.

Starting the day at 1-under, Choi - who tied for 15th last year - birdied Nos. 2, 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9 to reach 7-under. For Choi's playing partner, Adam Scott (Stats | Bio) - who missed the cut by five shots - the front-nine 30 was a thing of beauty.

"It was perfect," Scott said. "He hit some good shots, but he also made some putts that had a beautiful touch on them."

Said Choi, who shot 69 in last year's second round: "When I started out the day, I just thought, 'Let's have an easy day, a good start.' But as I got going, I kept making birdies. I just felt more comfortable out there."

Seeing his wife between Nos. 9 and 10 only heightened the experience.

"She told me that she was praying for me," Choi said. "Just the fact my family is here with me, I'm very happy. When I look at my kids, it gives me a sense of responsibility that every stroke I play is very important."

After speaking to his wife, though, he began giving those strokes away.

It was the opposite effect of Thursday's first round, when he went 2-over on the front nine before recovering for 1.

"I'm actually more of a steady player," Choi said. "I think it's because there was a little bit of nervousness that I felt playing the Masters."

Maybe a few extra hours studying the course will help alleviate those nerves.

"Normally, when a player starts bad, they tend to focus more on the back nine," Choi said. "When you start good, you try to maintain that. I think the difference is maintaining your swing rhythm and adjusting to all of the different conditions on the course. I didn't play that well on the back nine, but I feel like I'm in a very good position now."

Reach Josh Katzowitz at (706) 823-3216 or josh.katzowitz@augustachronicle.com.