SERGIO GARCIA remains ahead of the rest at this year's Open Championship, although KJ Choi is drawing on the experience of playing alongside Paul Lawrie in 1999 in his attempts to become the first Asian golfer to win a major.

After posting his second successive 69 yesterday, Choi spent last night relaxing as he plots to negotiate two further days of challenging links golf that would see him overtake the Spanish front-runner at the pinnacle of the leaderboard.

And the Korean, whose caddie Andy Prodger also knows the course as he is based in neighbouring Scottish town Perth, is using the memory of Lawrie's glorious moment at Carnoustie to spur him onto his own personal glory.

Choi partnered the Scot in the third round eight years ago, when Choi's dream of lifting the Claret Jug disappeared when he was another to fall victim to the atrocious Saturday conditions and he carded an 81.

Today, with a similarly poor weather forecast, Choi feels the knowledge he gained from sharing a round with the eventual Open champion of '99 could help him to stay in the leading pack.

"That year my shots were very weak in the wind," said Choi, who ended up tied 49th when Lawrie went onto win. "When I played with Paul, I actually learned a lot because I saw how well Paul used the ball, used the wind to work for him. It was a good lesson for me because this week I knew how to use the wind to my advantage.

"I didn't think I would be in this spot going into the weekend but I did feel a lot more comfortable because I had been here in 1999. Knowing the course and how it plays helped.

"My caddie, Andy, has also helped. He tells me you never know what you're going to get with the Scottish weather. He advises I prepare for any condition that may come. Whatever comes I will be ready."

In 2004 Choi, whose real name Kyoung-Ju was shortened after the starter at his Open debut in 1998 was unable to pronounce it, finished tied 16th at Royal Troon and that remains his best finish in this tournament.

But with PGA Tour wins in the AT&T National and Memorial Tournament - at two of the United States' most difficult courses - behind him this season, he heads into the final two days in good shape.

And despite spending the majority of his time across the Atlantic, Choi regards the Open as the number one tournament to win.

"Growing up in Korea they showed a lot of the British Open on TV," said the 36-year-old, who carded five birdies and three drop shots yesterday. "I remember thinking to myself that in order to play well there you have to be a good bunker player and play well in the windy conditions.

"For me, any major is valuable. But the British Open, with its history and tradition, is definitely one of the tournaments I really, really want to win. If I just keep my pace over the weekend, who knows, I might get my dream after all."

Choi used weight-lifting in his school days to strengthen his body for two years when he started to take golf seriously.

This morning he is faced with the hefty challenge of clawing back the two-shot lead held by Garcia.

The Spaniard ground out a level par round of 71 to go along with Thursday's sparkling 65 and he is looking for the partisan British crowd to spur him onto become the first European to win a major in 32 attempts.

Twelve months ago he partnered Tiger Woods at Royal Liverpool on the final day but soon dropped away to allow the world number one to claim his second successive Open title.

"The British crowds, and in this case the Scottish crowds, are just amazing," said Garcia. "I remember being with Tiger at the 16th last year and I couldn't win the tournament anymore and the applause I got.

"At that stage my caddie looked at me and said 'if I didn't know any better I'd say you were leading the tournament'. It's just amazing the knowledge they have and how they treat you, the respect they have. It's just great and it's the same this year.

"I've loved every one of the British Opens and that's one of the reasons. I'm just hoping I can keep doing well and give them things to cheer."

With Woods struggling at one over par, following yesterday's frustrating 74, Garcia has never had a better opportunity to win one of golf's biggest prizes.

"I don't care when I win my first major," he said. "I'm trying and that's all I can say. I'm trying to give myself good options and good looks at winning majors. That's all I can do.

"Sometimes you can play well and you still don't win and sometimes you can play not so well and win. Last year I managed to shoot 23 under in the last two majors and still didn't win. What can you do?"

Chasing Garcia and Choi, Spaniard Manuel Angel Jimenez and Canadian Mike Weir are on three under par with world number three Jim Furyk and American Boo Weekley a shot further back.

As well as Hartlepool's Graeme Storm, Colin Montgomerie, Darren Clarke and Phil Mickelson all missed the cut.

That was down to Korean-born Australian Lee Won-joon - in the final group who had to avoid a double bogey six on the 499-yard par four 18th.

The Sydney-based golfer missed the green to the right but chipped on and two putted.

It was 9.15pm and it was only then that Paul Lawrie, winner on the course in 1999, and Montgomerie, the course record holder discovered their fate.

It was a fifth straight missed cut in major championships for Montgomerie since blowing his chance to win last year's US Open at Winged Foot.