Golf-Fired up Woods rockets into contention at Buick Open (Reuters)
July 31, 2009
By Steve Keating
GRAND BLANC, Michigan, July 31 (Reuters) – A fired up TigerWoods roared into contention with a second round nine-under 63at the Buick Open on Friday, burying any thoughts he might missconsecutive cuts for the first time in his professional career.
Back in action for the first time since the British Openwhere he failed to make the cut in a major championship for onlythe second time as a professional, Woods arrived at WarwickHills on Friday morning facing the possibility of anotherweekend off.
After labouring to an opening round 71 on one of hisall-time favourite layouts, Woods languished tied in 95th place,three shots behind the projected cut off of four-under and eightbehind overnight leader Steve Lowery.
But the world number one responded in spectacular stylegoing six-under on his opening five holes on way to his lowestround of the season to rocket up the leaderboard.
Michael Letzig seized the second round clubhouse lead afterreturning a seven-under 65 but all eyes were on Woods, who islurking just two shots back on midway total of 10-under 134.
“It’s a process I can’t get it all back in one round, Ipositioned myself so far back yesterday it wasn’t going tohappen,” Woods told reporters. “But if I birdied the holesyou’re suppose to birdie and a couple of others here and thereyou’re going to come up with a round in the mid-60s and Ithought that would get me in touch with the leaders.
“I was so far back yesterday I was just trying to make sureI put a dent into that everyday.
“At least I’m back in the tournament.”
It was Woods’ 33rd consecutive under-par round at WarwickHills but not his lowest at the tree-lined layout.
He achieved that in 2005 when the 14-times major winner alsofumbled to a 71 then hit back with a course record 61.
Playing the back nine first, Woods took advantage of idealconditions opening with back-to-back birdies then chipped in foreagle on the par four 12th.
The 33-year-old American then dropped rapid fire birdies at13 and 14th before his first par of the day on the 15th whichwas followed by another birdie at 16.
But Woods had not completely worked the kinks out of a wonkyputter that he blamed for his disappointing first round.
Cruising along at seven-under through seven Woods missed athree-footer for birdie on 17 then three-putted the 18th for hisonly bogey of the round.
After a birdie at the first, Woods’s charge stalled withfive consecutive pars but finished with another flurry nailingback-to-back birdies at seven and eight.
“I was a little bit hot after yesterday,” said Woods. “Itwas nice to birdie the first couple.
“This golf course is playing soft and easy, you shouldbirdie every hole but you can also make a few mistakes like Idid yesterday.
“If I shot that number again today, I’m out of here.”
(Editing by Pritha Sarkar; To query or comment on this storyemail sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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