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After surgery, Choi plays well

LAKE BUENA VISTA -- When K.J. Choi began sweating profusely last month at the Tampa Bay Classic, he didn't think much about it. Everyone was sweating. The tournament was plagued by severe heat all weekend.

But after his seven-stroke victory at the Westin Innisbrook Resort, Choi learned there was more to it. He returned to his home in Houston, then had emergency appendectomy surgery the next day.

Choi played his first competitive round Thursday at the Disney Golf Classic, and appeared to have lost nothing. He shot 6-under-par 66 on the Palm course at the Walt Disney World Resort and was three strokes behind first-round co-leaders Jeff Sluman, Bob Burns and Hidemichi Tanaka.

"I had a little bit of pain in my stomach at times today, but nothing serious," Choi said. Choi said doctors performed a less-invasive type of surgery, which allowed him to be hitting balls a week after the operation. "I was very lucky," he said.

SATISFIED: Tiger Woods ended his round with a bogey and wasn't particularly happy with his ball-striking, but the two-time Disney champion wasn't complaining about his 66 on the Palm course.

"I will take it," he said. "I need to hit it a little bit better than I hit it (Thursday), that is for sure. I will work on it and hopefully I will have it fixed. But I really putted well."

PERFECT CONDITIONS: There was barely a cloud in the sky, and no wind. Cool morning temperatures were followed by pleasant, warm conditions. And because of early-week rain, the courses remained muddy, so players could lift, clean and place their ball in the fairway.

"We get our hands on the ball, and you darn well better not go out and fire a 74," Sluman said. "If you do, you're going to have some (Disney) park time on the weekend."

FAMILIAR TERRITORY: First-round co-leader Burns has been in this spot before. Last year, he had to return to the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament, where he tied for second after finishing 135th on the money list. Two years ago, he finished 125th, the cutoff for full exempt status. Entering Disney, Burns, 34, was 118th on the money list with three tournaments left.

"It's kind of scary how high (the money total) is going to be to keep your card," said Burns, who has $558,858. "I think I'm right on the number to keep your card. And then you miss the cut in Vegas (last weekend) by a shot, and you go, golly, I should have clinched my card, no problem, and free-wheeled it the last three weeks."

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