Back in Korea he’s a real Noh-body

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This article was published 14/08/2010 (5833 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. — Seung-yul Noh says he’s not very famous back home in Korea. That’s reserved for stars like K.J. Choi and Y.E. Yang.

The 19-year-old Noh is lurking on the leaderboard at 5-under 139 after a 68 in his second round on Friday at the PGA Championship. Noh, who wants to known by his initials S.Y., will likely be somewhere near the top when today’s third round begins, even though he insisted he isn’t looking at the leaderboard yet.

Noh hasn’t quite reached celebrity status in South Korea, but that may change with a strong performance at Whistling Straits.

“I don’t play much on the PGA Tour, so that’s why I’m not very famous back in Korea,” Noh said through an interpreter. “After this, maybe I’ll be famous.”

Maybe that’s not something he’ll want, either. Yang said after he won the PGA Championship last year, he needed six bodyguards for a trip back home and their clothes were in tatters after fans tried to get to Yang to celebrate their star.

FAIR EXCHANGE: Phil Mickelson, aiming for the world’s No. 1 ranking, gained a fan despite his errant ways. Mickelson struck a fan on the 15th hole on Friday, immediately making amends.

He signed a glove writing “sorry” in capital letters and put a sad, frowning face inside the “O.” The man he hit had a big smile, and didn’t appear seriously injured.

DIVOTS: The fog has delayed the first two days of play a total of five hours 56 minutes… The first round ended at 1:02 p.m., more than 30 hours after it was scheduled to begin. … The scoring average in the first round was nearly a quarter of a stroke higher than the first round of the 2004 PGA Championship on the same course.

NOT SO FULL MONTY: Colin Montgomerie will have to wait until the second round is completed today to find out whether he will finish in last place among 156 players. He shot an 83 on Friday afternoon and was at 18-over 162.

He was primarily entered as Europe’s Ryder Cup captain, and that’s his focus. Montgomerie was asked after he finished his first round 78 if he had prepared and what were his expectations.

“There weren’t. I couldn’t. I’m sorry,” he replied.

It was his fourth consecutive year at the PGA that he failed to break par.

All that boosted his spirits was the play of his potential team — Francesco Molinari a co-leader after the first round, Rory McIlroy playing well in another major.

One player who won’t be in Wales — and this is no surprise — is Sergio Garcia. The Spaniard, who has played every Ryder Cup since 1999, said last week he was taking a two-month break after the PGA Championship unless the Ryder Cup got in the way.

Asked if he could see Garcia on the team, Montgomerie replied, “At this stage, it is not looking likely, no.”

— The Associated Press