ATLANTA, Georgia — Tiger Woods fired a six-under par 64, Friday’s best round, and leaped into contention here at the PGA Tour Championship despite fellow American Jay Haas clinging to a two-stroke lead.
Woods, who opened with a two-over 72, found his top form by firing his first bogey-free round in three months, his success coming in his first event since marrying Swedish model Elin Nordegren last month.
“Yesterday I made a couple of silly mistakes,” Woods said. “I knew what I was doing wrong so I worked on it on the range and I hit the ball a little bit better. I made a couple of nice putts for birdies.” Woods’ only title of the year came at the World Golf Championships Match Play Championship in February, but he could send a message by capturing the final official event of the year. After a difficult season, Woods said his impressive round was a result of the swing adjustments he has made.
“The things I’ve been working on are starting to solidify,” Woods said. “I don’t have to work on as many things when I go to the range. They’re just quick fixes and I can go about my business. “If I play my best, I’m pretty tough to beat. I would like to play my best more frequently and that’s why you make changes. I thought I could become more consistent and play at a higher level more often.”
Haas, who turns 51 next month, fired a 66 to stand on seven-under par 133 after 36 holes at the six million-dollar season-ending event, two strokes ahead of Canada’s Stephen Ames and three atop Woods and South African Retief Goosen. “It’s not about the strongest and the fastest. If I hit a good shot, it doesn’t make it any less or more because of my age,” Haas said.
“I played really well, hit a lot of shots right on the button. I’m really driving the ball well right now. That’s helped me attack a bit, with the greens being soft.”
Haas has won more than $1.87 million, ranking 28th on the US tour to claim a spot in this season-ending showdown of the 30 top money winners, defying Father Time and trying for his first US PGA Tour title since 1993.
“I haven’t closed a lot over the years,” Haas said. “I’ve had a successful career but I’m not satisfied. You’re never satisfied, other than when you win.”
World No. 1 Vijay Singh of Fiji fired a 73 to stand nine strokes off the pace in a bid for his 10th title of the year.
“The wind was blowing from the start and the course was playing hard,” Singh said. “I hit a lot of solid tee shots and that’s the key for me this week. I’ve kept the ball in the fairway and given myself opportunities to hit into these greens.”
Sorenstam Widens Lead in Bid for Japanese ‘Four-Peat’
In Otsu, world No.1 Annika Sorenstam broke away to a four-stroke lead in the Mizuno Classic second round yesterday, with a rare bogey failing to bother her bid for a historic fourth straight title.
Sorenstam, seeking to become only the second player to win a single LPGA tournament four years in a row, three-putted on the short ninth hole for her first bogey in two years on the par-72, 6,450-yard Seta Golf Course.
The botched attempt over 20 feet on the 180-yard hole, which came in between seven birdies, also ended a 94-hole bogey-free streak.
“I never like making bogeys. It was unfortunate because I was not that far away from the hole,” said the 34-year-old Swede. “I feel pretty good, not as good as yesterday score-wise and play-wise. But I am happy with the finish.” She holed out with a two-round total of 129, 15 under par, while overnight co-leader Chihiro Nakajima of Japan slipped to second spot at 133 by carding 70.
South Korean Grace Park, a distant second behind Sorenstam on the LPGA money list for the year, was three strokes further back at 136 in a tie with six players including compatriot Aree Song and Laura Davies of Britain.
Davies is the only one player who has ever won a single LPGA event four years in a row. The long-hitter, now 41, triumphed at the Standard Register PING tournament from 1994 to 1997.
Sorenstam, who has already become the LPGA top prize earner for the fourth straight year with six wins, came close to a “four-peat” after winning the Michelob Light Classic in St. Louis 1997-99. But she finished 17th in 2000.
