McIlroy departs, Guthrie leads, Woods struggles
Source: Agencies |
March 3, 2013, Sunday
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THE drama of a Rory McIlroy walk-off, a Tiger Woods escape and a spectacular Camilo Villegas meltdown meant that not many people noticed Luke Guthrie taking the lead at the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Garden, Florida, on Friday.
Guthrie exhibited his potential with a 7-under 63 at PGA National. He was at 9-under 131 and had a one-shot lead over Michael Thompson (65).
The American was understandably concentrating on his own game and had not been aware that McIlroy had stolen the headlines by walking off the course after being 7-over par through eight holes.
"I had no clue," Guthrie said. "I was just kind of going about my business out there."
McIlroy, who missed the cut in Abu Dhabi and lost in the first round of the Match Play Championship in his previous two starts, made a double bogey on his second hole and rinsed two balls in the water on the 16th hole on his way to a triple bogey.
He hit his approach to the 18th in the water and never finished the hole.
He shook hands with Ernie Els and Mark Wilson and was on his way, but not before conflicting messages. McIlroy told three reporters who followed him to his car that it was nothing physical but that he was "not in a good place mentally".
An hour later, he released a statement through his management company that he couldn't concentrate because of a sore wisdom tooth. The problems that had initially seemed mental were now merely dental.
Woods looked as if he might join him. After mixing birdies with bogeys, Woods went bunker-to-bunker, over the green, short of the green and wound up with a double bogey on the 13th hole that put him one shot under the cut line with five holes to play.
Instead of the second straight week when the No. 1 and No. 2-ranked players were both gone early, Woods rallied to end up with another 70 to make the cut on the number, nine shots out of the lead.
Also having a tough time was tennis star Serena Williams, following in Woods' large gallery. She took a picture of the 14-time major champion after his tee shot on the 17th and was scolded by security. The PGA Tour does not allow photos on competition days. "Apparently u can't take pics. This security ... yelled at me," she tweeted.
There was no reason to get a snapshot of Villegas, who joined a dubious list of PGA Tour players who went from first to worst. Villegas, playing primarily on sponsor exemptions this year because he lost his full status, opened with a 64 on Thursday for his best start in more than a year. However, the Colombian was 13 shots worse on Friday in a round of 77 that caused him to miss the cut.
Guthrie exhibited his potential with a 7-under 63 at PGA National. He was at 9-under 131 and had a one-shot lead over Michael Thompson (65).
The American was understandably concentrating on his own game and had not been aware that McIlroy had stolen the headlines by walking off the course after being 7-over par through eight holes.
"I had no clue," Guthrie said. "I was just kind of going about my business out there."
McIlroy, who missed the cut in Abu Dhabi and lost in the first round of the Match Play Championship in his previous two starts, made a double bogey on his second hole and rinsed two balls in the water on the 16th hole on his way to a triple bogey.
He hit his approach to the 18th in the water and never finished the hole.
He shook hands with Ernie Els and Mark Wilson and was on his way, but not before conflicting messages. McIlroy told three reporters who followed him to his car that it was nothing physical but that he was "not in a good place mentally".
An hour later, he released a statement through his management company that he couldn't concentrate because of a sore wisdom tooth. The problems that had initially seemed mental were now merely dental.
Woods looked as if he might join him. After mixing birdies with bogeys, Woods went bunker-to-bunker, over the green, short of the green and wound up with a double bogey on the 13th hole that put him one shot under the cut line with five holes to play.
Instead of the second straight week when the No. 1 and No. 2-ranked players were both gone early, Woods rallied to end up with another 70 to make the cut on the number, nine shots out of the lead.
Also having a tough time was tennis star Serena Williams, following in Woods' large gallery. She took a picture of the 14-time major champion after his tee shot on the 17th and was scolded by security. The PGA Tour does not allow photos on competition days. "Apparently u can't take pics. This security ... yelled at me," she tweeted.
There was no reason to get a snapshot of Villegas, who joined a dubious list of PGA Tour players who went from first to worst. Villegas, playing primarily on sponsor exemptions this year because he lost his full status, opened with a 64 on Thursday for his best start in more than a year. However, the Colombian was 13 shots worse on Friday in a round of 77 that caused him to miss the cut.
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