-
Tiger Woods - Source: Reuters -
Related
Tiger Woods battled swirling breezes and some wayward driving to
card a patient four-under-par 68 and take a three-stroke lead after
the second round of the A$1.5 million Australian Masters on
Friday.
Woods, co-leader overnight, made two of his four birdies in his
first two holes to take the outright lead, then held firm with six
successive pars to finish with a 10-under total of 134 in bright
sunshine at Kingston Heath Golf Club.
"Today I didn't really do anything great but I made two big par
putts at nine and 14 to keep the round going," the world number one
told reporters.
"To shoot 68 today, I thought it was a pretty good number
considering the conditions ... To not drop a shot today was hard.
Those are always days that you feel quite good about."
Woods's patience was in marked contrast to his nearest challengers,
who threatened at times but crumbled with bogeys late on as the
wind picked up in the afternoon.
Australian James Nitties, who shared a one-stroke lead with Woods
and South Africa's Branden Grace overnight, clawed within a stroke
of Woods with his third birdie on the par-five 14th.
However, he fell back with two late bogeys to join compatriot Greg
Chalmers and American Jason Dufner in joint second on seven
under.
Australia's Adam Scott shot a one-under 71 to match his first round
score and is eight strokes behind Woods on two under.
The projected cut was three-over-par 147
Pearce leads Kiwis
Meanwhile, Mahal Pearce was a standout as the 15 New Zealand
golfers were left in the wake of Woods.
Pearce shot a four-under 68 - a score bettered by just two others
today at Kingston Heath Golf Club - as he soared to a tie for
eighth place on five-under.
While Pearce is well poised, it was a difficult day for the other
New Zealanders, including Doug Holloway, who slipped from fourth to
16th on three-under after shooting a 74.
Only one other New Zealander is under par, with Tim Wilkinson
carding a second successive 71 to be two-under in 22nd place.
There is a sizeable gap back to Michael Long on two-over, after
shooting 75, followed by five golfers on four-over -- Michael
Campbell, Josh Carmichael, Josh Geary, Todd Nicholson and Hamish
Robertson.
Second round leaders click here
