Woods extends lead to 4
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Tiger Woods makes his approach shot on the 18th hole during the second round of the Chevron World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks, California, on Friday. [Photo: Shanghaidaily.com/Agencies] |
Tiger Woods gave himself extra reason to smile after stretching his lead to a commanding four shots in the second round of the Chevron World Challenge at Thousand Oaks, California, on Friday.
Hunting his first victory of a year he has described as "very painful" on and off the course, Woods displayed good form from tee to green on the way to a flawless 6-under-par 66 at Sherwood Country Club.
One ahead overnight after opening with a sparkling 65 in his own tournament, the four-time champion mixed four birdies with an eagle three at the second to post a 13-under total of 131.
For the second straight day in a row, Woods mastered the five par-5s on the scenic layout framed by the Santa Monica Mountains, covering those holes in 5-under to tighten his grip. "I didn't hit the ball quite as sharp today but I putted a little bit better," Woods said in a greenside interview after putting himself in good position to win for the first time since the 2009 Australian Masters. "All in all, it evens out.
"You've got to take care of the par 5s here and I've done that for the first two days. I've got to continue doing that."
US Open champion Graeme McDowell carded a 68 to lie second at 9-under, one ahead of fellow Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy (70) and Englishman Luke Donald (66).
Britain's Paul Casey was alone at 6-under after recording an ace at the par-3 12th en route to a 65.
Former world No. 1 Woods has struggled on and off the course since his private life unraveled at the end of last season amid sordid revelations of serial philandering.
He took a five-month break from the game in an ultimately unsuccessful bid to repair his marriage and embarked on the fourth swing change of his career in August.
In Sydney, Geoff Ogilvy increased his one-shot overnight lead to five strokes after three rounds at the Australian Open, shooting a 5-under-par 67 yesterday at The Lakes to leave most of the field out of contention for his country's national championship.
Ogilvy, the 2006 US Open champion, had a 54-hole total of 16-under 200. Australian Matt Jones, who trailed Ogilvy by a stroke going into the third round, fell off the pace with a 71, one shot better than Australians Greg Chalmers (66) and Alistair Presnell (67), who are tied for third, six back of Ogilvy.
John Senden, who won the Australian Open in 2006, was in fifth place after a 70, level with fellow Australian Matthew Griffin, who shot 72, each seven strokes back.
Ogilvy, who has won three World Golf Championship titles as well as his 2006 major, has never won the Australian Open.
In New Delhi, Korean rookie Baek Seuk-hyun produced a spectacular finish to take a one-shot advantage after the third round of the Hero Honda Indian Open yesterday.
The 20-year-old rookie enjoyed a stunning back nine, which included an eagle and four late birdies at the Delhi Golf Club, for a 4-under 68 to lead from Sweden's Rikard Karlberg, who also returned a 68.
Indian veteran Mukesh Kumar and unheralded Manav Jaini stayed in contention with a 70 and 71, respectively, to lie joint third, four shots behind, with Australia's Unho Park (70) and South African Jbe Kruger (69) in the US$1.25 million Asian Tour event.
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