Saturday, August 10, 2002
Woods in driver's seat at Buick
Sorenstam finally misses a cut
Enquirer staff and news services
GRAND BLANC, Mich. - Tiger Woods is in his major mode a week early.
Woods, playing in his first tournament since his chance for a Grand Slam ended, shot a 9-under 63 Friday and pulled away from the field, leading by four strokes after two rounds at the Buick Open.
Woods has won 15 of 19 tournaments he has led or been the co-leader of after 36 holes. Woods, who began the day two strokes behind Kent Jones, had five birdies on the front nine and two birdies and an eagle on the back. He has gone 51 holes without a bogey, dating to the final round of the British Open, what could have been the third leg of the Grand Slam.
The last major, the PGA Championship, is next week at Hazeltine in Minnesota.
At 10 under were Scott Verplank, who shot a 65, and J.J. Henry, who was 5 under for the second straight day. Verplank's first win as a professional was at Warwick Hills in 1988.
Woods, who has won seven of the last 12 major tournaments, has a chance this week and next to add to his impressive resume.
If Woods wins the Buick Open and the PGA Championship, he would be the first player to win three majors in one year twice. Ben Hogan did it in 1953 and Woods did it two years ago.
He also would be the first player to win a major after winning a tournament the previous week since Lee Trevino won the Canadian Open and the British Open in consecutive weeks 31 years ago.
Woods won this year's Masters and U.S. Open, the first two legs of the Grand Slam.
Woods' most-impressive performance on Friday came at No.16.
His drive landed in the right rough and was 266 yards from the pin. Woods cut his second shot with a 2-iron around a tree and onto the green, and made a 6-foot putt for eagle.
Woods is playing the week before a major for the fourth time, and all of those tournaments have been the Buick Open.
In his previous three visits to Warwick Hills, he finished tied for eighth in 1997, tied for fourth in 1998 and tied for 11th in 2000 before going on to win the PGA Championship as the third leg of his “Tiger Slam.”
The Buick Open is one of three tournaments Woods has played in at least three times without winning. The other two are the Nissan Open and Phoenix Open.
Phil Mickelson, the second-ranked player in the world, was 2 under Friday and will enter the weekend at 5 under.
LPGA BRITISH OPEN: Karrie Webb made two eagles to improve her chances of a third Women's British Open title, and four-time major champion Annika Sorenstam won't be around to challenge her.
Webb shot a 1-under-par 71 Friday and is one stroke behind co-leaders Candie Kung and Carin Koch, who are tied at 8-under 136.
Americans Beth Bauer and Tina Barrett, and Spain's Paula Marti were tied for third with Webb at 7-under 135.
Sorenstam followed an opening 73 with a 77, finishing with a 36-hole total of 6-over 150, missing the cut for the first time in 75 events. The cut was 1 over.
Sorenstam, who won six tournaments this year, including the Nabisco Championship, had made the cut in 74 straight tournaments, dating to the U.S. Women's Open in June 1999.
“I had two unplayables and a triple in two days and, if you have that, you can't really score here,” Sorenstam said. “It's a bummer because I came here feeling good about my game and I had prepared exactly the way I wanted.”
Webb — who has won the tour's other majors, including the now-defunct du Maurier Classic — is shooting for the LPGA's Super Slam.
Webb's round was helped by eagles at Nos. 3 and 17.
“It was extremely cold this morning and extremely windy,” she said. “I'm just happy to get out at 1 under.
“Obviously, the two eagles made my round. I think 7 under will be pretty close to the lead. I feel I have put myself into contention to win this week.”
Kung missed a short putt on the last hole, losing sole possession of the lead.
The rookie, celebrating her 21st birthday, missed a 4-foot par putt at No. 18 and settled for a 1-under 71.
“If you want to win tournaments then, 100 percent, you have got to make all of those,” said Kung, who missed another short putt at 17.
Koch earned a share of the lead with a second straight 68.
Bauer, a 22-year-old rookie trying for her first win, had six birdies in a round of 4-under 68.
“Earlier in the year, I wanted to have enough money to retain my card,” Bauer said. “I am pretty set for that. I almost won a couple and ever since then I felt like I could win.
“I have been in the position twice this year and I feel like the more I am in the position, the more comfortable I feel. So, I'd definitely like to win before the season is over. This would be a good week to do it.”
Barrett, 37-year-old veteran, followed an opening 70 with a 5-under 67.
U.S. Open champion Juli Inkster, a winner of seven majors, shot a 78 and missed the cut with a 9-over total of 153.
“I was struggling with my swing the entire week,” Inkster said. “I just didn't know where it was going. But I will go home, regroup and work on my swing and I'll be just fine.”
3M CHAMPIONSHIP: James Mason shot a course-record 8-under 64 to take a two-stroke lead over Hale Irwin after the first round.
Mason, playing with course designer Arnold Palmer, birdied seven of the last 12 holes to break the mark of 66 set last year by three players in the first event on the TPC of the Twin Cities.
WALES OPEN: Former British Open champ Paul Lawrie had four birdies in 11 holes and led the rain-shortened second round.
GREAT LAKES CLASSIC: Pat Bradley and Barb Moxness shot 4-under-par 68s to share the first-round lead in the Women's Senior Tour event in Green Bay, Wis. Bradley, who won 31 tournaments in her Hall of Fame career on the LPGA Tour, had four birdies in a bogey-free round.
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Woods in driver's seat at Buick
