MADRID, 25 October 2003 — Revitalized Australian Peter Fowler made his latest visit to a European Tour leaderboard when his Madrid Open second round five-under-par 66 earned him a share of top place.
That put him alongside former British Open champion Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher of Britain on nine-under-par.
Fowler, 44, disappeared off the golfing scene three years after winning the 1993 BMW International Open and was on the brink of giving up altogether before deciding in 2000 to try to claw his way back.
Since then he has steadily improved, last year keeping his tour card by finishing 63rd on the European money list.
This year has been even better. He lies 45th and plays in the big-money Volvo Masters next week.
He has been rebuilding his game and he felt the last piece of the jigsaw, his putting, was at last in place.
While Fowler’s changes have been gradual, Lawrie decided to change his putting style in tournament play only this week, and also reaped dividends.
Putting was the theme for all three leaders because Gallacher, nephew of former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher, denied himself the outright early lead by incurring a one-shot penalty.
Swede Marten Olander held fourth place in the clubhouse, one shot back, after a 65.
Spain’s Sergio Garcia, with a 71, and Angel Cabrera, after a 68, were a further stroke adrift.
Woods in Sight of Equaling 55-Year-Old Tour Mark
At Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Tiger Woods moved within striking distance of equaling a 55-year-old PGA Tour record after finishing three off the first round lead in the $4 million Funai Classic on Thursday.
The world number one will match Byron Nelson’s achievement of making 113 straight cuts on tour if he qualifies for the third round.
Barring an extremely poor round on Friday, he will achieve that after an opening 66 left him three behind leader Brendan Pappas of South Africa who led at nine under par.He was six under par after 11 holes at the Palm course but could par the final seven in benign morning conditions.
Fiji’s Vijay Singh, the world number three who has hopes of topping the tour money list, carded a 64 to join Pat Perez and John Huston, twice a winner of this tournament, in a tie for second place.
Rocco Mediate, David Peoples and Dan Forsman shared fifth on 65. Woods was in a group of nine players, including Deane Pappas, the leader’s brother, who shot 66s.
Also on that mark were Australia’s Geoff Ogilvy, former US Open champion Corey Pavin, Ben Crane, Dicky Pride, Paul Azinger, Scott Verplank and John Rollins.
Four of the world’s top five players are in this week’s field. In addition to Woods and Singh, number four Davis Love III opened with a 67 and number five Jim Furyk had a 70.
