Tiger struggles through tough birthday round
By PETE HERRERA
AP Sports Writer
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Golf got the better of Tiger Woods
on his birthday.
The world's best golfer turned 24 Thursday as he played in
the Williams World Challenge. Aside from a bear hug from his dad
on the No. 1 tee and a rendition of "Happy Birthday, Dear
Tiger" from the gallery around the 18th green, it was a round
Woods would just as soon forget.
Struggling most of the day with his swing and occasionally
mumbling to himself, Woods shot an even-par 70. Good enough for
most mortals, but not up to Tiger standards.
That left him two shots behind Tom Lehman, who shot 65 Thursday,
and one back of David Duval. Duval, paired with Woods, shot 69.
"It was one of those days," said Woods, who planned
to spend the remaining hours of daylight on the practice range.
"I didn't hit the ball the way I wanted to. I didn't putt
the way I wanted to," Woods said. "I really didn't do
anything right. What I did do was hang in there."
Lehman is at 7-under 133 heading into Saturday's third round.
Duval, who shared the first-round lead with Woods, is at 134 and
Woods at 135.
Woods had trouble finding consistency from any club in his
bag.
"I didn't drive the ball in the fairway. I didn't shape
my shots correctly," he said. "I'd go hit a 2-iron draw
and hit a 2-iron fade. If I wanted to hit it low, I was hitting
up-shooters."
Woods went 13 holes without a birdie but made a great save
for par on the 464-yard par-4 ninth hole. His drive caught the
fairway bunker, and Woods walked off the tee talking to himself.
Faced with a tough lie in the bunker, Woods took a mighty swing.
He hit it fat and nearly lost his balance, the ball going just
100 yards up the fairway. He put his fourth shot six feet from
the cup and made the par-saving putt.
He bogeyed two of the next three holes. He three-putted from
15 feet at No. 10, then missed a 5-footer at No. 12 after missing
the green with his second shot. He saved his round with back-to-back
birdies on 14 and 15.
"Most of the day I was leaving myself some tough putts,"
Woods said. "I was just getting by. I'm going to hit a lot
of balls tomorrow and come out with a game plan for Saturday."
Unlike most pro events, this week's 72-hole tournament at the
Grayhawk Golf Club is being played over five days. A pro-am will
be played Friday, with the third and final rounds on Saturday
and Sunday.
Lehman, who had five birdies and no bogeys in his round, said
a good showing here will boost his confidence for the start of
the 2000 tour season.
Lehman didn't win on the tour this year and thus isn't eligible
to compete in next week's opener, the Mercedes Championships.
"I'd love to be playing next week, but second-place finishes
don't get you in," he said. "But I'm ready for the season
to start. I feel like I have a lot of things to prove to myself
this year."
Duval left several birdie putts inches short in a generally
solid round.
"I putted well," he said. "I hit a lot of putts
where I wanted but the greens are pretty severe and very slick."
Twelve of the world's top-ranked players are competing in this
final offseason event, with the winner earning $1 million from
a purse of $3.5 million.
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