ATLANTA, (Reuters) – Tiger Woods wasted a chance to take a commanding lead in the Tour Championship with an untidy finish to yesterday’s second round, ending a sun-splashed day just one stroke ahead of the chasing pack.
The world number one lipped out with short putts at the 15th and 16th before bogeying the par-three last for a two-under-par 68 at East Lake Golf Club.
That left Woods on five-under 135 in the PGA Tour’s fourth and final FedExCup playoff event, a stroke in front of playing partner Padraig Harrington (69) and overnight leader Sean O’Hair (70) of the U.S.
South African Ernie Els, boosted by four birdies in five holes from the eighth, was alone in fourth place at three under after a 66.
“The day as a whole was a good day,” Woods told reporters after putting himself in position to clinch the FedExCup for a second time, along with a $10 million bonus.
“I shot under par and I got myself in the lead. But it was a day in which I hit the ball very well starting out, didn’t make any putts and hit everything on the high side.
“Then the back nine I hit some scratchy shots but also hit some really good ones too,” added the American, who is hunting his seventh tour victory of the season.
“I had an opportunity at 15 and 16 to make a couple of putts, didn’t do it, but made a good save at 17 and unfortunately just made a four at 18.”
Woods, champion here in 2007, produced a sizzling three-birdie run from the seventh to go one shot clear.
He then struck a superb five-wood uphill from 247 yards at the par-five 15th to four feet but lipped out with his eagle putt. The tap-in birdie put him two ahead of the field.
BRILLIANT
APPROACH
Another brilliant approach followed at the 16th, his ball ending up less than four feet from the pin, but Woods again surprisingly lipped out and had to settle for a par four.
“Fifteen was okay, that’s fine, that happens,” he said. “It was a strange putt in the sense the grain was left to right … and the slope was right to left. But 16 was just a bad putt.”
After parring 17 despite finding a fairway bunker off the tee, Woods overshot the green at the last and failed to reach the putting surface with his chip from tangly rough.
Harrington, yet to win this season on either the PGA or European tours, relished playing with Woods for the eighth time this year.
“We had a great day out there,” the Irishman said after a round featuring three birdies and two bogeys. “We enjoyed it.
“It’s where you want to be. If you’re playing with Tiger, you’re going to be generally there or thereabouts with a chance to win the tournament.
“I’m in good position as regards the tournament, probably not the best position as regards the FedExCup. It’s a little bit out of my control.”
Harrington lies sixth in the points standings and would clinch the FedExCup if he won the Tour Championship and top-ranked Woods finished no higher than third tomorrow.
Els, chasing his first title this year, was delighted to equal the lowest score of the week.
“I played nice,” the 39-year-old said after totalling just 26 putts on rock-hard greens. “I played good yesterday but today I made some putts. I might have a chance on Sunday.”
Tee times have been pushed forward by more than three hours for today’s third round with heavy rainfall forecast for the afternoon.