Jeff Overton doesn't feel like a different player than the guy who couldn't make it to the weekend on the PGA Tour over the past two months. Funny how seeing the ball go in the hole changes everything.

Overton continued his one-week turnaround yesterday with a 5-under 65, giving him a share of the lead with Tom Pernice Jr. in the AT&T National at Bethesda, Md., before storms rained on the Fourth of July atmosphere at Congressional and interrupted the second round.

Overton and Pernice, who matched the course record on a soft, still day at Congressional with a 63, were at 9-under 131.

Anthony Kim, living up to his billing as the next young threat in golf, appeared poised to catch the leaders until a 1 1/2-hour storm delay that slowed his momentum. A bogey on the par-5 ninth gave him a 67, three shots behind with Cliff Kresge (65).

Consider how quickly Overton's prospects have changed.

He hasn't finished in the top 20 all year. He had not broken par since the final week in April. He missed the cut at the Buick Open last week to assure his sixth weekend off in his previous seven tournaments.

He stuck around Detroit for a British Open qualifier -- Overton has never played in any major -- and was 9 under over two rounds to finish first in his field and earn a ticket to Royal Birkdale.

He showed up at Congressional and hasn't stopped.

"I've hit a lot of great shots the last few weeks. It's been frustrating lipping out a lot of putts," Overton said. "And, on Monday, made a bunch of putts and saw the ball go in the hole a few times, and it opens the flood gates mentally."

Pernice did most of his damage around the turn, running off four consecutive birdies, starting with a 20-footer on the tough par-4 sixth hole that played 494 yards.

Other tournaments

• Dick's Sporting Goods Open: Joe Ozaki shot a 9-under 63, his low in three years on the Champions Tour, to gain a two-shot lead over Argentina's Eduardo Romero after the first round in Endicott, N.Y. Joey Sindelar, Ronnie Black, and Fulton Allem were tied for third at 66, while John Harris, Des Smyth, Bobby Wadkins, and Morris Hatalsky were another shot back.

• European Open: England's Ross Fisher birdied his final hole for a 4-under 68 and a one-stroke lead over Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (67) after the second round in Ash, England. Fisher had a 13-under 131 total.

• NW Arkansas Championship: South Korea's Seon Hwa Lee birdied five of her final six holes for an 8-under 64 to take a two-shot lead at the LPGA Tour event in Rogers, Ark., that was delayed five hours at the start because of the conditions. H.J. Choi was second.