AKRON, Ohio, 21 August 2005 — Tiger Woods double-bogeyed his final hole at the $7.5 million WGC-NEC Invitational to fall back into a share of the second-round lead with Briton Luke Donald on Friday. A triple winner at the Firestone Golf Club, the world No. 1 had looked in complete control and was two strokes clear of the field with five holes to play.
But Woods suddenly lost his way. He bogeyed the 14th and a double-bogey six at the par-four 18th left the 29-year-old American muttering to himself and angrily flailing one of his clubs.
He finished with a level-par 70 to join Donald on four-under 136.
Playing the back nine first, Donald made a bogey on his second hole but then notched three successive birdies from the 13th followed by another on the second to record a three-under 67.
One shot back on a tightly-packed leaderboard was a group of five players led by world No. 2 Vijay Singh and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, who shared the overnight lead with Woods but slipped back after carding matching one-over 71s. Irishman Paul McGinley (66), Dane Thomas Bjorn (67) and American Chris DiMarco (70) were also on 137.
Woods’s problems at the 18th began when he sliced his tee shot into the trees on the right before hitting a branch with his second.
The US Masters and British Open champion then overshot the green with his third.
“The good thing is I still have the lead,” Woods told reporters. “We’ve got a long way to go but I didn’t shoot myself out of the tournament by making a double-bogey and that’s a good thing. “I’m still right there. I’m playing well so I just have to keep doing what I’m doing.” Donald is chasing his first win of the season after finishing runner-up at the Players Championship and tied for third at the US Masters. “I got off to a little bit of a slow start but then really kicked in on 13 and got on a little bit of a roll,” said the European Ryder Cup player. “I’m trying to treat this as sort of a fun week, there’s no cut and you’re guaranteed a finish...somewhere. Singh, who strung together 17 consecutive pars in the third round of last week’s US PGA Championship, reeled off 10 consecutive regulation figures on Friday before sinking a 25-foot birdie putt at the par-four 11th.
That was the highlight of the day for the Fijian, who finished with bogeys on the mammoth 667-yard par-five 16th and 17th.
Bjorn, runner-up to US PGA champion Phil Mickelson, continued his rich vein of form to move into contention.
Australia’s Stuart Appleby (70), Briton David Howell (68) Spain’s Sergio Garcia (70) and Americans David Toms (67) and Justin Leonard (66) also remained in the thick of the title chase on two-under 138.
Mickelson came back down to earth, signing for a two-over 72 for a one-over tally of 141.
With bad weather forecast for Saturday, third-round start times were brought forward four hours. The first threesomes will start on the first and 10th tees at 0720 EDT (1120 GMT).
Player Names Baker-Finch
His Presidents Cup Assistant
In Akron, Ohio, Australian Ian Baker-Finch will return as assistant captain of the International side for next month’s Presidents Cup team competition against the US.
“I am really happy Baker-Finch is going to be my assistant,” said captain Gary Player in a statement on Friday. “Our team is now complete. “Ian did an outstanding job at Fancourt during the 2003 Presidents Cup. All the players respect and like him.” It marks the third time Baker-Finch has served as assistant captain.
The former British Open champion first filled the position at the 1996 Presidents Cup played in Lake Manassas, Virginia, the site of this year’s event.
He returned as assistant seven years later in South Africa where the International team and the US battled to a 17-17 draw.
“I really enjoyed working with captain Player and the experience in South Africa...I am anxious to finish some unsettled business,” said Baker-Finch.
