Oosthuizen cracks Tiger record, grabs 5-shot lead
LOUIS Oosthuizen smashed Tiger Woods' record for the lowest halfway score in World Golf Championships history yesterday as he opened up a big five-stroke lead at the US$7 million WGC-Champions in Dongguan, south China's Guangdong Province.
Oosthuizen's 9-under-par 63, helped by a run of eagle, birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie, left him 16 under through 36 holes, beating Woods' 15-under score at the 2000 Bridgestone Invitational and 2006 Cadillac championship.
His second round, which followed Thursday's 65, put a clear distance between the South African and nearest rivals Adam Scott and Ernie Els, who shared second spot on 11-under 133.
Oosthuizen's spell-binding performance also evoked memories of his five-stroke halfway lead at the 2010 British Open, when he successfully closed out over the weekend. "Scoreboard-wise, it's probably the same," he said. "Looking at the leaderboard, there's so many great players up there. It's far from over. It was probably the same at the Open."
Four-time major-winner Els, who sprained his ankle playing tennis two weeks ago, turned at 7 under and then added two more birdies for a 63, matching his fellow South African Oosthuizen. Australian Scott finished on 68.
"You know what they say - beware the injured golfer," smiled Els.
Phil Mickelson, the event's only double winner, was also set for a share of second place until he found greenside rocks on the 18th for double-bogey and dropped down to tied sixth with Dustin Johnson. Jason Dufner, and Johnson's Ryder Cup teammate, shot 66 to share fourth spot with Ireland's Shane Lowry, who had 68.
Oosthuizen's 9-under-par 63, helped by a run of eagle, birdie, birdie, birdie, birdie, left him 16 under through 36 holes, beating Woods' 15-under score at the 2000 Bridgestone Invitational and 2006 Cadillac championship.
His second round, which followed Thursday's 65, put a clear distance between the South African and nearest rivals Adam Scott and Ernie Els, who shared second spot on 11-under 133.
Oosthuizen's spell-binding performance also evoked memories of his five-stroke halfway lead at the 2010 British Open, when he successfully closed out over the weekend. "Scoreboard-wise, it's probably the same," he said. "Looking at the leaderboard, there's so many great players up there. It's far from over. It was probably the same at the Open."
Four-time major-winner Els, who sprained his ankle playing tennis two weeks ago, turned at 7 under and then added two more birdies for a 63, matching his fellow South African Oosthuizen. Australian Scott finished on 68.
"You know what they say - beware the injured golfer," smiled Els.
Phil Mickelson, the event's only double winner, was also set for a share of second place until he found greenside rocks on the 18th for double-bogey and dropped down to tied sixth with Dustin Johnson. Jason Dufner, and Johnson's Ryder Cup teammate, shot 66 to share fourth spot with Ireland's Shane Lowry, who had 68.
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