Woods in prime position at Open, Westwood in the hunt
Source: AFP |
July 20, 2013, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
TIGER Woods closed out his second round with a 12-foot birdie putt at Muirfield yesterday to fuel his hopes of winning a fourth British Open crown and a 15th major title.
His level par round of 71 left him on two under for the tournament and in a share of the clubhouse lead, with Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson, halfway through the round.
Woods, whose last Open win came at Hoylake in 2006 and who last bagged a major at the Torrey Pines US Open of 2008, looked menacing as he had two birdies in the first five holes, to get to three under. But he failed to capitalize on that with bogeys at the eighth and 11th.
The world No. 1 stayed at one under until the crowd-pleasing last hole birdie which he celebrated with a rapier-like flourish of his putter.
"I'm in a good spot. I'm tied for the clubhouse lead I think now with Henrik and Westie," he said. "These guys have to go out this afternoon and obviously play a golf course that's quick and it's drying out and with a different wind. So it will be tough out there."
Westwood, the English former world No. 1, who has played in 61 majors and has yet to win one, could have been even more handily placed as he got to five under for the tournament after making six birdies in 12 holes.
That put him level with American overnight leader Zach Johnson, who had a mid-afternoon tee-off time.
Bogeys at 13, 14 and 18, stopped his charge, but he had still taken the joint lead in the clubhouse and worked his way back into championship contention. "I feel very confident. The golf course is playing tough. You know sooner or later you're going to drop a shot or two," Westwood said.
Sweden's Stenson carded a second straight 70 to join Westwood and Woods at two under 140, with Scottish hope Martin Laird a stroke further back after he finished on level par.
Last year's Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, who smashed a club in anger on Thursday, had the joint best round with Westwood among the early starters, coming in with a superb 68 to move to one over.
Two-time Open champion Padraig Harrington, who was left hanging on the cut fringe at six over, said that Muirfield was a tamer prospect yesterday than it had been the previous day. Unlike Harrington, England's former world No. 1 Luke Donald knew that he could pack his bags and head for home right away after a 72 left him at 10 over for the tournament.
Australia's Masters champion Adam Scott was safe for the weekend on one over after a 73 as was Ulsterman Graeme McDowell who carded a 71 to stand at four over. Phil Mickelson (69), Justin Rose (75) and defending champion Ernie Els (74) all set off with afternoon tee-times as did Rory McIlroy, who was looking to bounce back after a crippling opening round of 79.
His level par round of 71 left him on two under for the tournament and in a share of the clubhouse lead, with Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson, halfway through the round.
Woods, whose last Open win came at Hoylake in 2006 and who last bagged a major at the Torrey Pines US Open of 2008, looked menacing as he had two birdies in the first five holes, to get to three under. But he failed to capitalize on that with bogeys at the eighth and 11th.
The world No. 1 stayed at one under until the crowd-pleasing last hole birdie which he celebrated with a rapier-like flourish of his putter.
"I'm in a good spot. I'm tied for the clubhouse lead I think now with Henrik and Westie," he said. "These guys have to go out this afternoon and obviously play a golf course that's quick and it's drying out and with a different wind. So it will be tough out there."
Westwood, the English former world No. 1, who has played in 61 majors and has yet to win one, could have been even more handily placed as he got to five under for the tournament after making six birdies in 12 holes.
That put him level with American overnight leader Zach Johnson, who had a mid-afternoon tee-off time.
Bogeys at 13, 14 and 18, stopped his charge, but he had still taken the joint lead in the clubhouse and worked his way back into championship contention. "I feel very confident. The golf course is playing tough. You know sooner or later you're going to drop a shot or two," Westwood said.
Sweden's Stenson carded a second straight 70 to join Westwood and Woods at two under 140, with Scottish hope Martin Laird a stroke further back after he finished on level par.
Last year's Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, who smashed a club in anger on Thursday, had the joint best round with Westwood among the early starters, coming in with a superb 68 to move to one over.
Two-time Open champion Padraig Harrington, who was left hanging on the cut fringe at six over, said that Muirfield was a tamer prospect yesterday than it had been the previous day. Unlike Harrington, England's former world No. 1 Luke Donald knew that he could pack his bags and head for home right away after a 72 left him at 10 over for the tournament.
Australia's Masters champion Adam Scott was safe for the weekend on one over after a 73 as was Ulsterman Graeme McDowell who carded a 71 to stand at four over. Phil Mickelson (69), Justin Rose (75) and defending champion Ernie Els (74) all set off with afternoon tee-times as did Rory McIlroy, who was looking to bounce back after a crippling opening round of 79.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
