Faxon, Frost, Goydos share Colonial lead; Woods
three back
By MIKE COCHRAN / Associated Press Writer
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - David Frost rode a sizzling putter
to a 7-under-par 63 Friday and grabbed a share of the second-round
lead at the MasterCard Colonial with Brad Faxon and Paul Goydos.
But Tiger Woods, battling a balky putter all day, slashed five
strokes from par for a 30 on the back nine and his 65 moved him
within three shots of the leaders.
Frost's bogey-free performance propelled him into first place
with Faxon, the first-round leader who shot a 66 Friday, and Goydos,
who followed an opening 64 with a 65.
That put the trio at 11-under 129 heading into the weekend
showdown.
Justin Leonard (67), Jim Furyk (67) and Bob Tway (66) were
two off the lead at 131.
With another massive gallery cheering him on, Woods still loomed
as the man to beat.
A Colonial title on Sunday would give the 21-year-old sensation
victories in three consecutive starts, which has not occurred
on the PGA Tour since Nick Price did it in 1993.
Woods missed several short putts in matching par 35 on the
front side and at that point was eight strokes behind the leaders.
But birdies on Nos. 10 and 11 got him rolling and he birdied three
of his closing five holes.
Despite his solid 66, Faxon took a mild swipe at Woods, joking:
"I didn't have my 'A' game today. It was a C-minus."
Woods used such terms to describe his stunning victory last
month at the Masters and his less spectacular triumph at the Byron
Nelson Classic last week.
Pressed about Woods, Faxon suggested the superstar still has
a little to learn about life on the PGA circuit.
"I mean, seriously, it's impressive what he's done,"
said Faxon, a 5-time tour winner.
But he went on to point out that others have won when not playing
at the top of their game.
"He's making it sound like he's the only one," Faxon
said. "Jack Nicklaus won a lot of tournaments when he wasn't
playing well. Tom Watson was the same way.
"It's the mark of a champion to win tournaments without
having everything together."
Faxon disclosed that he had discussed the subject of "winning
ugly" with Woods last December in a Florida telephone call.
"He'd been saying that ... when he was beating everybody.
I told him, 'You better be aware of what you're saying and how
it's being taken by your (colleagues).' I think he was listening.
He was silent."
Faxon said he also told Woods if he wants people to like him,
he needs to watch what he says.
"He's the most successful thing that's come along,"
Faxon conceded. "He has superb confidence."
He also indicated that Woods' status has tended to isolate
him from his fellow players.
"I think in a way his superstardom is creating that whether
he wants it or not," Faxon said. "The great superstars
of every sport have to deal with that."
Woods, he predicted, "is going to be with us for a long
time. I want to get along with him, and I think everybody else
does."
|
