Choi one clear in Sweden

Korean veteran KJ Choi moved a shot clear of the field at the Scandinavian Masters after a second round 67.

Choi, whose only previous victory in Europe was at the 2003 German Masters, went out in five-under 31 after starting on the 10th.

He had three birdies and an eagle three at 15, but enjoyed mixed fortunes on the front nine, mixing three more birdies with three dropped shots.

His five-under-par round was enough to earn him a one-shot lead over Swede Richard S Johnson, who carded a best-of-the-day 66.

Newly-crowned Open champion Louis Oosthuizen - who shared the lead after an opening 67, dropped back into a share of third after a 70, alongside Argentina's Rafa Echenique (69).

After struggling on the greens recently, two weeks ago Choi switched to a bizarre-looking side-saddle putting method.

But, after missed cuts at the John Deere Classic and then at St Andrews, the 40-year-old has gone back to a conventional style.

"I need more practice at it. These greens are very slopey," said Choi, who missed a succession of makeable putts over the closing stretch.

No changes

Oosthuizen had his misses on the greens too, but has no plans for any drastic changes.

"You've got to do what you've got to do, but I think I'll stick to my routine," said the 27-year-old South African.

Like Choi, Johnson is based in America and his only European Tour success was eight years ago - in Australia.

Johnson's compatriot and playing partner Jesper Parnevik, out of golf since February after the discovery of a career-threatening fractured vertebrae, quit after 11 holes of his second round.

That was longer than he feared he might last and Parnevik, five over at the time, will now continue the rehab which he hopes can make him a Tour regular again.

Italian Edoardo Molinari, who with a second place finish could knock Luke Donald out of the top nine on the Ryder Cup table, is still well in touch at five under.

Hopeful

American Cup hopeful Dustin Johnson is only one further back after a 73 containing five birdies, six bogeys and seven pars.

But fellow countryman Rickie Fowler, who could yet force himself into Corey Pavin's side in this his rookie season, crashed out on five over, after hitting two balls in the lake on the 13th and running up a triple bogey eight.