Woods sets course mark with a hit-or-miss round
Woods sets course mark with a hit-or-miss round
BETHESDA, Md. - The best of Tiger Woods materialized yesterday when his game was falling apart.
Woods lived up to his hopes of being a "greedy host" when he salvaged his round during a shaky stretch in the middle and shot a 4-under-par 66 to take a 1-shot lead in his AT&T National with the lowest-ever 36-hole total at Congressional Country Club.
HARAZ N. GHANBARI / Associated Press
Tiger Woods holds a 1-shot lead after the lowest-ever 36-hole total at Congressional Country Club. "Either I hit it pretty close to the hole, within 10 feet, or I was missing greens," he said.
"Either I hit it pretty close to the hole, within 10 feet, or I was missing greens," Woods said. "So it was a little bit of two ends today. It was nice to actually get a score out of it."
Woods was at 10-under 130, breaking by 1 shot the 36-hole record at Congressional set last year by Tom Pernice Jr. and Jeff Overton. One shot behind him was Rod Pampling, who boosted his chances of qualifying for the British Open.
Defending champion Anthony Kim could not build on his course-record 62 from the opening round. He played in the afternoon, after Woods set the target, and caught him briefly before missing too many fairways and having to settle for a 70 that put him 2 behind.
West Chester native Jim Furyk, adding more star power to the leaderboard, shot a 67 and was alone in fourth.
Woods will bring his tournament to Aronimink the next two years while Congressional prepares to host the 2011 U.S. Open.
Woods is helping out longtime friend Notah Begay III, agreeing to play in his charity Skins Game on Aug. 24 at Turning Stone Resort in Verona, N.Y., to support Native American youths.
Begay declined to comment and kept his head down when asked whether Woods was playing in his event, then stopped 20 yards later and said with a smile, "I need to win some skins."
Woods' agent confirmed he would play in the Notah Begay III Foundation Challenge. The world's No. 1 player will join Stanford teammate Begay, former Masters champion Mike Weir, and Camilo Villegas.
Begay, a Navajo, is the only Native American on the PGA Tour.
LPGA Tour
SYLVANIA, Ohio - Laura Diaz tied Sarah Kemp for the second-round lead in the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic at Highland Meadows Golf Club.
Diaz hopped in celebration when her 12-foot birdie try on the final hole went in, giving her a 4-under 67 and a share of the lead with Kemp (63) at 11-under 131.
Morgan Pressel (68) was a shot back.
Paula Creamer will play in the U.S. Women's Open at Saucon Valley in Bethlehem, Pa., next week despite a sore thumb. She is resting her injured left thumb this week after getting two anti-inflammatory shots.
European Tour
SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France - Rafa Echenique of Argentina took a 2-stroke lead at 10-under 132 in the French Open after shooting a 67 at Le Golf National, Albatross Course.
Germany's Martin Kaymer was tied for second with South Africa's Charl Schwartzel and England's Steve Webster.
