TIGER WOODS MISSES OUT ON HIS FIRST 59 - SHOOTS SECOND-ROUND 61

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE

By James Corrigan, Akron, Ohio
 As if Tiger Woods’ CV does not have enough famous entries.

The world No 1 went chasing his first 59 before falling just two shots short in the second round of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational here on Friday.

Gasps of awe outnumbered the roars of joy when Woods struck his tee-shot to within nine feet on the 15th. At that point he was nine-under and with a par five to follow and requiring two birdies, it seemed almost inevitable that Woods would become the sixth to break the magical 60 on the PGA Tour.

The putt slipped by and then he failed to make a four on the 16th and a seven-footer for a birdie on the 17th agonisingly stayed above ground.

Yet just when Firestone was coming to terms that, yes, Woods is human, he made an outrageous par save on the 18th to equal the lowest score of his remarkable 17-year career.

“I dont know where I’d rank this 61 in my best rounds,” he said. “I had the chance to shoot a 59, but I’m absolutely not disappointed. A 61 around here? That’s nothing to be bummed about.”

Indeed it is not. It was the best score of the day by five shots and was well worth the trademark Tiger celebration. Woods equalled the course record and established a seven-shot lead on 13-under. If and when he prevails tomorrow it would be his eighth win at Firestone - and his fifth of the season. His continued drought in the majors makes no sense at times like this.

It certainly did not for young Chris Wood from Bristol, who, courtesy of his 68 for a six-under total, will achieve a boyhood dream and partner Woods on Saturday. “I just didn’t see a 61 out there and the cheers for each of his birdies were incredible - like a football match,” Wood said. “He’s been my sporting hero since I took up golf as a 10-year-old and to play with him, in the final group when he’s in this form will be extra special.”
Of course, every aspect of Woods’s game was sharp; yet his putting stats stood out. He one-putted the first seven greens, had 16 putts through his first 14 holes - and 22 in total. He began birdie-eagle-birdie and from the 10th had four birdies in succession.
But what defines Woods in this mood is his utter refusal to submit to a hole. On the sixth he got up and down from six-iron range and on the14th, after driving into the trees, he holed a 10-footer. yet it was the 18th which sums him up.
Anybody else would have bogeyed, having just seen the prospects of a 59 die and having seen their attempted miracle shot hit a tree after another wild drive. Not Woods. He found a route to the fringe and holed from 26 feet to make par having hit neither fairway or green. 
“Those big par putts are bigger than making birdies,” Woods said. “It’s the feeling of never dropping a shot. I kept the card clean today. And that’s nice.”
It was easy to overlook everybody else here. In a tie with Wood is the defending champion Keegan Bradley and because of the organisers’ decision to play in three-balls to counter the forecasted storms, he will also play in the last group. Luke Donald is on four-under after a 69, while Rory McIlroy one-over after a 71.
They all have to tip their caps to Woods. Next week’s USPGA cannot come soon enough.

SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 140 (2x70)
Players from USA unless stated
127 Tiger Woods 66 61
134 Keegan Bradley 66 68, Chris Wood (England) 66 68
135 Bill Haas 67 65, Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 65 70
136 Jim Furyk 67 69, Luke Donald (England) 67 69, Jason Dufner 67 69, Bubba Watson 67 69

SELECTED OTHER SCORES
139 Jamie Donaldson (Wales) 70 69 (T16)
140 Paul Casey (England) 70 70 (T19)
141 Paul Lawrie (Scotland) 69 72, Rory McIlroy (N Ireland) 70 71, Justin Rose (England) 69 72, Ian Poulter (England) 69 72 (T25)
142 Richie Ramsay (Scotland) 73 69, Graeme McDowell (N Ireland) 71 71, Lee Westwood (England) 71 71 (T34)
143 Phil Mickelson 72 71 9T43)
144 David Lynn (England) 71 73 (T49)
147 Martin Laird (Scotland) 77 70 (T63)
148 Stephen Gallacher (Scotland) 74 74 (T64)

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