Friday, March 2, 2001
Tiger blooms with another 64
Desert Classic
By STEPHEN WADE
AP Sports Writer
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) —
Tiger Woods is amused some people think he is actually in a slump.
He suspects they have a lot to learn about golf.
Winless in five U.S. tour events this season,
Woods reminded organizers of the Dubai Desert Classic why they
paid him $2 million to play on this peninsula course in the Persian
Gulf.
He birdied the last two holes Friday for
his second straight 8-under 64, taking a two-stroke lead on partner
Thomas Bjorn of Denmark in what is virtually a two-man event.
“I haven't won in eight tournaments
in America,” said Woods, who last season became the first
golfer to win three Grand Slams since Ben Hogan in 1953. “But
I've won three other tournaments in that span. I won in Thailand
(Johnnie Walker), the Grand Slam (Hawaii) and then in Argentina
(World Cup). There are three events that I've won and they (Americans)
don't count those.”
“I don't think they actually follow
the game globally as well as they should,” he added. “Some
of the writers — the public — don't get to see what
goes on in the world of golf.”
India's Jeev Milkha Singh shot a 6-under
66 Friday to go with a 67, leaving him five strokes behind Woods.
England's Brian Davis (65) and Ireland's Paul McGinley (64) were
six back at the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club.
Bjorn said his 64-66 were probably the best
two rounds of his life. He has homes in Florida, Denmark and Dubai
and has played this course often.
“I've performed to my highest level,”
he said.
The Dane had only praise for the tireless,
intense play by Woods.
“When this guy brings his best golf
game, there is nobody in the world who is going to beat him,”
he said. “If I keep playing my best, he's got to just let
off a little bit. The way he's playing right now over the first
two rounds is why he's the world No. 1. He is by far the best
golfer I've ever seen.”
Through 31 holes — 18 on Thursday and
13 on Friday — Bjorn stayed with Woods. But on the 14th,
Bjorn made the only bogey either would make in two rounds and
Woods drew even at 14 under.
“You have to be focused all the time
when you play with Tiger,” Bjorn said. “When you play
with any other guys you get a little break out there. But not
with Tiger.”
Woods dropped an 8-foot putt on the 17th
for birdie to pull one ahead. He then hammered a jaw-gaping 357-yard
drive on the par-5 18th.
“I hit mine very, very well and I was
50 yards behind him,” Bjorn said. “Then one appears
out of nowhere that just keeps flying. My next is a 3-wood I hit
with both feet coming off the ground, and Tiger's going in with
a 5-iron.”
“I don't watch him that much,”
Bjorn added. “I don't think watching him is a good idea or
you start realizing how impressive he is.”
Woods' total of 16-under 128 is a tournament
record for the opening 36 holes, two better than the mark set
by Ernie Els in 1994. The two-day cut is 3-under par, which Woods
called “almost unheard of.”
“I do still think about records, but
36-hole records really don't matter a whole lot unless you come
away with the title,” he said.
Woods (16) and Bjorn (15) have racked up
31 birdies. Between them, they've birdied every hole. They'll
be paired again Saturday.
“Any chance I get to play with Tiger
in the last group on Saturday and Sunday, the more I learn about
myself,” Bjorn said. “But if he keeps shooting 64s,
two 63s on Saturday and Sunday are going to be very hard to find.”
Woods attributes some of his strong putting
to the smooth greens on the palm-lined course.
“You get me on some good greens —
I feel like I been putting good all year,” he said.
Woods is shaking off jet lag after arriving
Monday following a 251/2-hour trip from Los Angeles. He woke up
a 3 a.m. before Thursday's round.
“I slept in Friday — I was up
at 4:30,” he said.
And ready to play.
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