KIDWCKED
08-06-2010, 08:50 PM
c/p from espn by Bob Harig.
AKRON, Ohio -- Tiger Woods has shot consecutive rounds over par for the first time in 12 tournament appearances at Firestone Country Club, with a 2-over 72 Friday following his first-round 74.
Woods' performances in the first two rounds would have him packing his bags most weeks on the PGA Tour, but because the Bridgestone Invitational is a World Golf Championship event, there is no 36-hole cut.
And that means Woods gets to stick around for two more days to try and improve on easily his worst showing in two rounds here.
His 146 left him in a tie for 75th out of 81 players, with the second round still in progress.
He declined to talk to reporters afterward.
"Neither one of us played very well, did we?" said England's Lee Westwood, who was one stroke worse over two days as he has been battling a worsening calf injury. "We are human. We all have bad days. What can you do? Cry?"
Westwood on Friday withdrew from the tournament and is also withdrawing from next week's PGA.
Woods made five bogeys and three birdies and, depending on your perspective, did well to shoot 72.
He hit just three of 14 fairways and somehow played his first eight holes (he started on the back nine) in 1-under par. But his shaky play caught up with him, and Woods bogeyed three of the next four holes. He finished his round birdie-bogey-birdie-bogey.
Going back to the 1997 World Series of Golf here, Woods had never played consecutive rounds in worse than 1-over par. It is the first time since 1999 -- when he still managed to win -- that Woods had two rounds over par in the same tournament.
The Bridgestone, which Woods has won seven times, was supposed to provide an indication about his game, given his previous success.
But like Augusta National, Pebble Beach and St. Andrews, there are more questions than answers.
Woods seemingly had started to drive the ball better at St. Andrews last month. "As I said to you guys at the British Open, this is the best I've driven it in years and this is the worst I've ever putted it," Woods said Wednesday. "What a game."
That good driving hasn't been apparent over the first 36 holes. He has hit just eight fairways, a number that wouldn't be considered good for even one round. And two of those fairways were credited when wayward shots bounded off of trees and into fairways.
Putting plagued him Thursday, although Woods required just 27 putts Friday, likely saving him from a higher number.
As Woods searches for his game, second-ranked Phil Mickelson has a chance to overtake him for the No. 1 spot in the world.
Mickelson, who is in contention at the start of the second round, can move to the top with a victory; if he finishes in the top four, he'd still move up as long as Woods finishes outside of the top 37. Woods would have to finish outside the top 44.
AKRON, Ohio -- Tiger Woods has shot consecutive rounds over par for the first time in 12 tournament appearances at Firestone Country Club, with a 2-over 72 Friday following his first-round 74.
Woods' performances in the first two rounds would have him packing his bags most weeks on the PGA Tour, but because the Bridgestone Invitational is a World Golf Championship event, there is no 36-hole cut.
And that means Woods gets to stick around for two more days to try and improve on easily his worst showing in two rounds here.
His 146 left him in a tie for 75th out of 81 players, with the second round still in progress.
He declined to talk to reporters afterward.
"Neither one of us played very well, did we?" said England's Lee Westwood, who was one stroke worse over two days as he has been battling a worsening calf injury. "We are human. We all have bad days. What can you do? Cry?"
Westwood on Friday withdrew from the tournament and is also withdrawing from next week's PGA.
Woods made five bogeys and three birdies and, depending on your perspective, did well to shoot 72.
He hit just three of 14 fairways and somehow played his first eight holes (he started on the back nine) in 1-under par. But his shaky play caught up with him, and Woods bogeyed three of the next four holes. He finished his round birdie-bogey-birdie-bogey.
Going back to the 1997 World Series of Golf here, Woods had never played consecutive rounds in worse than 1-over par. It is the first time since 1999 -- when he still managed to win -- that Woods had two rounds over par in the same tournament.
The Bridgestone, which Woods has won seven times, was supposed to provide an indication about his game, given his previous success.
But like Augusta National, Pebble Beach and St. Andrews, there are more questions than answers.
Woods seemingly had started to drive the ball better at St. Andrews last month. "As I said to you guys at the British Open, this is the best I've driven it in years and this is the worst I've ever putted it," Woods said Wednesday. "What a game."
That good driving hasn't been apparent over the first 36 holes. He has hit just eight fairways, a number that wouldn't be considered good for even one round. And two of those fairways were credited when wayward shots bounded off of trees and into fairways.
Putting plagued him Thursday, although Woods required just 27 putts Friday, likely saving him from a higher number.
As Woods searches for his game, second-ranked Phil Mickelson has a chance to overtake him for the No. 1 spot in the world.
Mickelson, who is in contention at the start of the second round, can move to the top with a victory; if he finishes in the top four, he'd still move up as long as Woods finishes outside of the top 37. Woods would have to finish outside the top 44.