Purdy Inspired By `American Idol', Kim Talks To Self At Colonial

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) _ Ted Purdy was inspired by an ``American Idol.'' <br/><br/>Two days after casting at least 100 votes for Jordin Sparks, the daughter of one of his golfing buddies, Purdy

Friday, May 25th 2007, 8:02 am

By: News On 6

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) _ Ted Purdy was inspired by an ``American Idol.''

Two days after casting at least 100 votes for Jordin Sparks, the daughter of one of his golfing buddies, Purdy overcome an opening bogey and went on to a 6-under 64 to get within one stroke of Anthony Kim in the suspended first round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

``Her family is just a real positive family. I'm trying to bring that to my golf game,'' Purdy said. ``She inspired me today. ... I know her dad real well.''

Purdy began his round with a three-putt bogey at the 407-yard 10th hole, but recovered with five birdies in a seven-hole stretch. He got to 7 under before missing the fairway and the green for a bogey on his 16th hole, the straight 432-yard No. 7.

Sparks' father is retired NFL player Phillippi Sparks, a fellow board member at the same Phoenix country club with Purdy.

Purdy and Kim, who had nine birdies in his round of 63, were among 57 players _ exactly half of the 114-player field _ to finish play Thursday before an afternoon thunderstorm flooded the course. Play never resumed after the second weather delay of the day, and the round was suspended until Friday.

Kim found his own inspiration from within, and was talking to himself after a bogey at the 417-yard 12th hole. He missed the fairway, came up short of the green on his approach and pushed a 7-foot par putt past the hole to move to 1 under.

``I gave myself quite a talking to, probably stuff I shouldn't be saying,'' said Kim, a 21-year-old PGA Tour rookie who lives in Dallas.

Kim then birdied the last six holes _ the longest birdie streak on tour this season _ to finish his best-scoring round since turning pro late last year.

Jeff Maggert had his best score in 43 rounds at Colonial to match Purdy at 6 under. Nathan Green, Jeff Quinney and Peter Lonard all completed 65s. There were 30 players who finished rounds under par, including defending champion Tim Herron (67).

Frank Lickliter was 5 under through eight holes _ with six birdies and a bogey _ when play was stopped for good. Kevin Na, paired with Lickliter, was 4 under with five birdies.

After Kim finished his self-scolding session, he hit his tee shot at the 171-yard 13th hole inside 4 feet. His birdie putt at the 448-yard 14th hole was even shorter before the first suspension of play because of weather.

There was a delay of 1 hour, 22 minutes before Kim went out and finished his round with four more birdies _ all ranging from 9 to 17 feet.

``There really wasn't one thing. Usually when something turns around during a round you can tell. I don't know what it was,'' he said. ``Maybe it was taking the head cover off finally and putting it, or opening my eyes. Something changed, and I don't really know what it was.''

When play stopped the first time, Green and Quinney _ playing in the first group of the day _ were on the 17th green, a hole after trading the lead.

Green was 6 under when he got a bad break at the par-3 16th, his 7-iron off the tee plugging into the sand. He barely got on the green after that and took a double bogey, while Quinney made a 9-foot birdie to move to 5-under.

Quinney hit 17 of 18 greens in his bogey-free round.

``I felt at ease out there,'' Quinney said. ``It's just one of those days it was pretty easy.''

A 10-foot birdie at No. 17, on his first shot after play resumed, got Green back to 5 under.