DiMarco leads Disney Classic

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Chris DiMarco used his claw putting grip to perfection Friday, shooting a bogey-free, 9-under-par 63 for a two-stroke lead midway through the Disney Classic.

In Tiger Woods' backyard, DiMarco has felt right at home, totaling 18 birdies, an eagle and two bogeys for a 36-hole total of 17-under 127. Scott Hoch was second at 15-under 129.

"I've been driving the ball fairly straight and I've been putting absolutely phenomenal," DiMarco said. "I'm just seeing the line so good and my speed has been perfect."

Woods began the day three shots off the pace and ended it eight back, carding a 3-under par 69. The world's top golfer, whose adopted home is Orlando, is playing for the first time since the Ryder Cup.

Coupling what he called a "new secret" with his unorthodox grip, DiMarco birdied the first three holes and five of the first six. He added an eagle and two more birdies on the back nine, including a 40-foot chip at No. 18.

"Obviously, to get off to that start was great," said DiMarco, who played the Magnolia course that is one of two used in the tournament, "because you can get in trouble out here if you don't hit it straight."

DiMarco's career has been defined by his putting, particularly his claw grip, which used to be the focus of attention with him in contention. But it is less of a novelty now that 10-15 players on tour are using it.

"That's good for me," said DiMarco, who won the Phoenix Open in January for his third career title. "That means that people are overlooking that and seeing that it really doesn't matter how you hold it, as long as the ball goes in the hole."

It also went in the hole for Hoch, who carded a bogey-free 7-under 65 at Magnolia, finishing with three straight birdies. Despite going two rounds without a bogey, he was two shots behind DiMarco.

"Fifteen-under after two rounds and I'm two back," said Hoch, who tied for second two weeks ago at Kingsmill in Virginia. "Something's wrong here."

Hidemichi Tanaka of Japan was third at 14-under 130, a stroke better than Bob Burns. The two were tied for the lead with Jeff Sluman entering the day.

Skip Kendall, Stuart Appleby of Australia, Mark Brooks, Joel Edwards and Brian Gay shared fifth at 12-under 132.