Friday, November 10, 2000
Woods back into contention with 3-under
69
BY STEPHEN WADE
AP Sports Writer
SOTOGRANDE, Spain (AP) — Tiger Woods climbed back into contention
in the American Express Championship Friday as he fought off cool,
gusty winds to shoot a 3-under 69 in the second round of the season-ending
tournament.
Woods' two-day total of 4-under 140 was a stroke behind early
clubhouse leader Mark Calcavecchia, who shot a 67 for 139.
Bob May also shot a 69 and was 4-under for two rounds. Vijay Singh
was in the clubhouse at 3-under after a round of 70 while playing
with Woods.
Scotland's Colin Montgomerie, who must win the $1 million first
prize to have a shot at claiming his eighth straight European
money title, shot a 67, leaving him 2-under for two rounds.
First-round leader Nick Price (63) and runner-up Padraig Harrington
(66) were late starters.
Woods, trying to become the first player in 50 years to win 10
times on the tour and the first to break the $10 million mark
in season winnings, putted better than he did in Thursday's round
of 71. He had three birdies and a bogey-free round despite sharp
winds blowing off the nearby Mediterranean.
Woods again dropped his approach at the 536-yard 17th into the
pond guarding the green. In the final round of this tournament
a year ago, he had a triple-bogey 8 at 17, which forced him into
a playoff he won over Miguel Angel Jimenez.
He also bogeyed the hole Thursday after hitting into the water.
On Friday, after dropping his 9-iron second shot from 160 yards
into the water, he knocked his chip to 4 feet and holed out.
“I hit such a great shot in there,” said Woods, who
threw his club to the ground like a spear after another shot into
the drink. “The problem was I didn't hit it high enough.
The wind knocked it down being downwind. You could see it just
kill it and knock it straight down.
“I'm still very pleased. I ground my way around this course.
Consequently, I was able to shoot a nice number and get myself
back in the this tournament.”
On Thursday, Price had 11 birdies, while Harrington had seven
on a near-windless day.
Twelve top Americans have skipped this event, declining to travel
despite the $5 million purse. Among the missing are Tour Championship
winner Phil Mickelson and David Duval.
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