U.S. Open Update: Tiger Lurks Behind Leader

By John Nestor
PA SportsTicker Golf Editor

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- This is not the Buick Invitational, but Tiger Woods played like it was on his back nine Friday at Torrey Pines. Woods fired five birdies coming in for a 30 on his final nine holes and moved within a shot of the lead after the second round of the U.S. Open. Australian Stuart Appleby is alone in the lead at 3-under 139. Woods has won the PGA Tour's annual stop here six times as a professional, including each of the last four years.

Despite playing for the first time since undergoing knee surgery two days after The Masters, Woods was considered one of, if not, the favorite here. He showed why after the turn in Friday's second round. Woods put nothing worse than a four down on his scorecard for the entire back nine. He posted five consecutive threes - four of which were birdies - and looked right at home on a course he has come to dominate. He made his last birdie at the par-5 ninth to close out a 3-under-par 68 and move into a tie for second, one stroke behind Appleby.

Appleby birdied 18 by sinking a 50-foot bomb to grab the lead after a second-round 70. Rocco Mediate and Robert Karlsson are tied for second with Woods at 2-under 140. Woods was slow out of the gate again, but turned it on coming home. He double-bogeyed his first hole on Thursday and he started with a bogey on the 10th hole Friday. He bogeyed No. 12 but looked poised to turn things around with an eagle at the par-5 13th. But he had two more bogeys on his first nine and the comeback would have to wait until after the turn. "I was just hanging around, made an eagle on 13 but gave it right back on 16 and 17," Woods said. "Then on the back nine, I just started making some putts."

A lot of them. Woods hit fairway after fairway and gave himself a birdie chance on just about every hole on his back nine. After three pars, he closed his round with a six-footer for birdie on No. 9 to wrap up an impressive performance. "To be honest with you, I was just trying to get back to even-par for the tournament," Woods said. "I felt that if I played well on that back nine I could definitely get back to even-par and I would be right back in the championship, and all of a sudden I started running them in from everywhere."

Even though the monster putt at No. 18 gave Appleby sole possession of the lead, he is well aware of the loud footsteps behind him. "I think that you don't avoid it. It's always there. It's a given," Appleby said of Woods looming. "So I guess as players we're sort of used to it. It is very different playing with him. There's a whole lot of more movement, action, sounds, whatever it is. "So I mean, getting in your own world is certainly harder to do. And that's a learned skill in itself."

Mediate had the lead at 4-under for a good portion of the afternoon after he played his first seven holes in 2-under. He had a three-shot cushion at one point but while Woods was making a charge on his last nine holes, Mediate slipped back to the pack by playing them in 2-over 38. "I played as good a front nine as I could play," Mediate said.

Kevin Streelman and Justin Hicks started the day tied for the lead but both tumbled down the leaderboard. Streelman went off in the early groups and stumbled to a 77 and is at 3-over for the tournament. Hicks signed for an 80 to drop to 6-over and barely make the cut.

U.S. Open Update: Hicks & Streelman Lead

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- The spotlight was supposed to be on the Tiger Woods-Phil Mickelson showdown, but it is Justin Hicks and Kevin Streelman who find themselves atop the leaderboard entering Friday's second round at the U.S. Open.

Hicks and Streelman found more than their fair share of birdies during Thursday's opening round at Torrey Pines - a course that the players have dubbed tough but fair. While the day started with the galleries buzzing about the grouping that featured Woods, Mickelson and Adam Scott, Hicks and Streelman took advantage of their relative anonymity and share a one-stroke lead at 3-under-par 68. Rocco Mediate, Stuart Appleby, Eric Axley and 2006 U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy are tied for third at 2-under 69. Lee Westwood, Sweden's Robert Karlsson, Ernie Els, Robert Allenby and American amateur Rickie Fowler completed their first rounds in 1-under 70.

Hicks, who missed the cut at the 2004 U.S. Open, and Streelman, who is playing in his first Open, combined for 13 birdies on Thursday, and each were as low as 4-under. Woods, who was playing competitively for the first time since The Masters, gave the field a two-stroke head start on Thursday. Then, after making up the deficit, he duplicated the feat on the back nine.

The world's top player hit his first shot of the tournament into the rough at No. 1, leading to a double-bogey. He spent the next eight holes climbing back up the leaderboard and was 1-under at the turn. He started the back nine with four consecutive pars before his second double-bogey of the day, this one at the par-4 14th. Woods finished his 1-over 72 with a three-putt par at the par-5 18th.

Hicks was able to fire seven birdies with four bogeys. He started on No. 10 and had two runs of three consecutive birdies on his first nine holes. He added a birdie at No. 4 and dropped to 3-under with a bogey at the seventh. Westwood also started his round on No. 10 and sank two birdies and a bogey. He closed his front nine with a birdie at 18 and then parred every hole after the turn to place himself comfortably near the top of the leaderboard. Karlsson got to 4-under with a 25-foot birdie at No. 1, but he had bogeys at the third, fourth and eighth coming in to drop back.

Mickelson, Vijay Singh and Luke Donald are among a group of seven at even-par 71. Only 11 players carded under-par rounds on Thursday, and the statistic of the day from the first round is that Hicks and Streelman combined for 13 birdies while Woods, Mickelson and Scott - the top three players in the world - had 11 between them.

U.S. Open Questions Abound

By John Nestor
PA SportsTicker Golf Editor

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) - If sports has taught us anything, it's one simple lesson. There is no such thing as a sure thing. It just takes a quick look at the sports landscape - even recently - to bear this out. How about that Big Brown - unbeatable right? Absolutely not, and the Triple Crown drought will now reach 31 years. What about the New England Patriots? They went from football immortals to victims of one of the most stunning upsets in Super Bowl history in one night.

Even golf has shown us the sure bet is often a sucker bet. Good thing we didn't just give Tiger Woods a green jacket on Tuesday of Masters week. It turns out Trevor Immelman would have had plenty to say about it. It just shows why we play the game, the match, the tournament, It's because in sports, the result is unknown until we play it out, and that brings us to this week's U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. The season's second major is presenting question after question with a number of possible answers. We'll start to get a clearer picture starting today and we will have our answers, with undoubtedly more questions Sunday night.

The uncertainty starts at the top. What should we make of Tiger Woods? After a two month layoff due to knee surgery the World No. 1 has not played since Sunday at The Masters. Will he be rusty? Will his knee hold up? Will he maintain his usual dominance at Torrey Pines where he has won six times as a professional, including each of the last four years. Woods has played three abbreviated practice rounds and was spotted on the practice putting green on Wednesday morning. There haven't been any signs of trouble with his knee but Woods would not let on about its condition one way or the other. "Is it fully recovered? Probably not." Woods said. But does it need to be for him to win his third U.S. Open? Probably not. "I'm good to go. I plan on playing competitively," Woods said. "Come game time on Thursday, I'll be ready."

The second favorite is Phil Mickelson, who played high school matches at Torrey Pines and can barely contain his enthusiasm at the event being held in his back yard. But with that excitement also comes expectations. Can Mickelson snap his U.S. Open jinx? Can he handle the pressure of a major coupled with the pressure of playing with Tiger on Thursday and Friday? He's 0-for-17 in U.S. Opens with four runner-up finishes. He loves this championship, would love to win it and especially love to win it here. It just seems that the U.S. Open just doesn't like Mickelson like that. "I love it," Mickelson said of the Open. "I just haven't gotten the love back." Maybe it's because Mickelson is too open about his affection for and desire to win this tournament.

The U.S. Open is called the toughest test in golf, it's not some touchy-feely pro-am. Look at last year's winner. Angel Cabrera gutted out a closing 69 on a hellish Oakmont setup and then went into a chain smoking fit that would have made the Marlboro Man proud as he waited for Jim Furyk and Woods to finish a stroke out of the lead. Cabrera is back to defend his title but minus the smokes. "Everything is still the same, just without the smoking," Cabrera said. He quit earlier in the year, but his game is the same. He's a tremendously long hitter off the tee and with his irons. That part of his game is intact, but the defending champion is still working on his putting and if that doesn't come around, it's hard to imagine him repeating. "My game is in very good shape, especially the long game," Cabrera said. "I'm working on my putting, trying to improve a little bit. Hopefully I have. "I'm having a rough time on my putting right now. I'm trying different things, different putters. I have two putters, the one I used last year at Oakmont and a new one. So I'll see. The one that feels best I'm going to play on Thursday."

And when play does start Thursday, one of the biggest questions of the week will be answered, just how tough will Torrey Pines be? We know it won't be setup like the Buick Invitational, not with the USGA in charge, but will they maintain their protection of par or loosen the reigns a bit? Geoff Ogilvy, a contender this week and the 2006 U.S. Open champion, feels players will have some options, even if they miss fairways, with the big hitters having more options than the rest. "The rough in spots is shorter than in the Buick, at least just off the fairways," Ogilvy said. "I'm not saying a guy who doesn't hit it long can't win, but length is definitely an advantage. Last year at Oakmont, you could poke some irons off the tees. There's not much of that here." But there are plenty of questions and four days worth of answers ahead.

Tiger Goes For Six Consecutive

By Andrew Both
SportsTicker Golf Writer

MIAMI (Ticker) -- As Tiger Woods takes his six-month winning streak into this week's World Golf Championships event, his fellow professionals can only look on in awe at his accomplishments.

With six official victories - five in the United States and one on the European Tour - Woods' peers are starting to wonder if he'll ever be beaten again. They admire every facet of his game, but it's perhaps the simplest part of golf that draws the most envy. At least, that's what one player claims. "What people talk about in the locker room is how does he putt so well every week?" said Geoff Ogilvy, the 2006 U.S. Open champion. "Lots of guys can work out how to hit it well every week. "But week in and week out, he seems to make bombs all over the place, which is not easy to do. That's the bit people can't work out, how does he hole that many putts?" Of course, there's much more to Woods' repertoire than putting. But he does have an uncanny ability to coax the ball into the bottom of the cup when it really matters.

Take last Sunday for instance, when he holed a 24-footer at the final hole to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational by one stroke. Woods had not, contrary to Ogilvy's general observation, made a putt from outside 20 feet all week. But was anyone really surprised that he did so when he needed to?

Woods is making the phenomenal look merely routine. For example, he is one of just three players to have won at least five consecutive starts on the PGA Tour, and the only player to have done it more than once. He won seven starts in a row in 2006-07, won six times on the trot in 1999-2000 and has now won five consecutive appearances on tour. Jack Nicklaus, by contrast, never won more than three successive starts. In an average year, Woods posts as many victories as some very, very good players manage in their entire careers. "He has a good career every year," Ogilvy said. "Last year would have been a good career for anybody, a major and seven other tournaments. That's a career, and he does it every year. "It doesn't surprise me anymore. When he won the U.S. Open by 15 (strokes in 2000) and three weeks later won the British Open by eight, people were saying he can't get any better."

Woods has had two relatively quiet seasons, finishing fourth on the money list in both 1998 and 2004. Both times, however, he was in the midst of swing changes that ultimately would lead to total dominance again. "He has his ups and downs," Ogilvy said. "But his ups tend to last longer than most people's and his downs don't last very long, and are very good. "In the middle of last year, I wasn't really in love with (his swing), but by the Tour Championship (in September) it started looking really good."

Now Woods tries to extend his winning streak at a course he virtually owns, Doral's Blue Monster. He has won here the past three years, twice at the now defunct PGA Tour stop, while claiming the WGC CA Championship last year. The field has been set at 79 players, with reigning British Open champion Padraig Harrington the only one among the world's top 50 absent. Woods will be as motivated as ever this week to continue his winning streak in his last start before the Masters. Someone will end his latest golden run sooner or later, but don't bet too much on such a scenario unfolding this week.

Woods & Cink to Meet in Finals

By Andrew Both PA SportsTicker Golf Writer
MARANA, Arizona (Ticker) - Tiger Woods and Stewart Cink will clash in an all-American final at the Accenture Match Play Championship. The top seed, Woods stayed on course for his third victory in this World Golf Championships event when he eliminated Henrik Stenson in their semifinal match on Saturday.

Last year's winner, Stenson was the lone European survivor into the final four, and he kept it close, but the Swede never led as Woods clinched a hard-fought 2-up victory at Dove Mountain. The other semi was a lopsided affair, with Stewart Cink making a brilliant start before cruising to a 3 and 2 win over Justin Leonard.

Woods and Stenson won one hole each on the front nine, and halved the other seven to make the turn all square. Woods, the 2003-04 champion, took the lead with a birdie at the par-5 10th, so often a pivotal hole, and they halved the next five holes until Stenson pulled level with a 15-foot birdie at the par-3 16th. But Woods regained the lead with a clutch 10-foot birdie at the par-5 17th. "It was a nice putt to make," Woods said. "It's fun to have the opportunity. Whether you succeed or fail, at least you have a chance. Luckily over my career, I've succeeded more than I've failed." Woods did not even have to sweat at the last after Stenson, needing a birdie at the last to have any chance, came up short of the green with his approach shot, before chunking his chip. He did not even bother to hit another shot, conceding to Woods as his 10-match winning streak at this event came to an end.

The few spectators who decided to follow the Cink-Leonard match were rewarded by some spectacular play on the front nine. Leonard was 3-under through eight holes, but could not keep pace with the sizzling Cink, who was 7-under through eight holes. They were all square after three holes, before Cink won four of the next five to break clear as his putter ran white hot. "I've never gotten this far before," said 22nd-seeded Cink. "To be in the final, it's going to be a blast." Cink admitted the last few holes had been ugly. "I started off so hot and two things happened. Physically, I was running out of gas and mentally I got a bit ahead of myself," he said.

Earlier on Saturday, Woods ultimately was far too good for K.J. Choi in the their quarterfinal. Woods took a while to warm to his task on a cool morning, all square at the turn, but once he found his game it was all over. The top seed took the lead with an eagle at the par-5 10th, where he chipped in from 30 feet, and also won the 12th and 14th holes with birdies to take total command. "I just had to stay patient," said Woods, who halved the next two holes to close out the Korean.

Woods to Meet Baddeley

MARANA, Arizona (Ticker) -- Tiger Woods aims for a second consecutive dominant performance Friday when he takes on Aaron Baddeley in the third round of the $8 million WGC Accenture Match Play Championship.

After barely escaping with a first-round win over J.B. Holmes, Woods roared back with a resounding victory Thursday, defeating Arron Oberholser, 3 and 2. The top seed in the Jones Division, Woods improved to 26-6 all-time in this event. "Match play is an animal that's all about the moment," Woods said. "It's not about building toward Sunday. If you don't play well, you're going home." Woods avoided an early trip home Thursday courtesy of his easy win over Oberholser, who struggled in his first event of the season.

The world No. 1, Woods figures to have a tougher time against the fifth-seeded Baddeley, who advanced to the third round when 13th seed David Toms withdrew from the second round with a back injury. If Woods defeats Baddeley, he would move on to a showdown with either third seed K.J. Choi or seventh-seeded Paul Casey.

Woods hopes to avoid suffering the same fate as world No. 2 Phil Mickelson, who was ousted Thursday by Stuart Appleby. The eighth seed in the Player Division, Appleby holed nine birdies Thursday to upset the top-seeded Mickelson, 2 and 1. Appleby's next opponent will be 13th seed Justin Leonard, who upset fifth-seeded Lee Westwood, 2 and 1, in the second round.

Seeded third in the Player Division, Vijay Singh takes on No. 15 Rod Pampling. The other remaining top seed is Steve Stricker, who will face fourth-seeded Angel Cabrera in third-round action. Colin Montgomerie, the 15th seed, faces No. 6 Stewart Cink in the Snead Division's other match. In the Hogan Division, fourth-seeded Henrik Stenson faces No. 16 Jonathan Byrd while 10th seed Woody Austin meets No. 11 Boo Weekley.

Herron Atop Pebble Beach Leaderboad

PEBBLE BEACH, California (Ticker) -- Tim Herron has a one-shot lead after Friday's second round of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Herron was among five players tied for the lead at one point Friday and managed to come out on top after a round of 3-under-par 69.

At 7-under 137, Herron leads a group of four players by one shot. Robert Floyd, Michael Allen, J.B. Holmes and Nicholas Thompson are all tied at 6-under 138. Herron started his round at Poppy Hills on No. 10 with a birdie. He bogeyed 17 and finished his first nine holes with a birdie at 18. Herron birdied two of his final four holes to finish the round, including No. 9. "I hit it fine and I drove it good," Herron said. "I've hit a lot of greens this week and made one bogey, and the bogey I made was a three-putt."

Tiger Leads Target Challenge

By John Reger
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

THOUSAND OAKS, California (Ticker) -- Tiger Woods shot a tournament-record 10-under-par 62 on Friday to go to 13-under 131 after two rounds and take a four-stroke lead over Jim Furyk at the Target World Challenge.

Woods, who has only had four lower rounds in his career, finished the day with his best score since firing a 61 at the 2005 Buick Open. It only took Woods sixth holes Friday to erase a one-stroke deficit and regain the lead at Sherwood Country Club.

Trailing Furyk by a shot, Woods birdied the second and fifth holes to catch the first-round leader, who made a birdie on the first hole and then par on his next eight. Woods took the lead when he nearly holed out on No. 6, as his approach shot hit in front of the cup, rolled past it and then spun back to within six inches. Woods shot a 6-under 30 on the back nine to double his lead. It was increased to five, but Furyk birdied on the 18th hole to finish at 67.

Tiger Named PGA Golfer of the Year

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida (Ticker) - Tiger Woods was named the PGA Tour Player of the Year on Tuesday, a result which has become a regular annual occurrence. Woods has won the Jack Nicklaus Trophy, the award given to the player of the year as selected by PGA Tour players, each of the last three years and nine times in the last 11 seasons. "To earn the respect of your peers is the highest honor you can receive," tour commissioner Tim Finchem said.

The 31-year-old Woods delivered yet another dominant campaign in 2007, recording seven tour victories and 12 top-10 finishes. He also collected his eighth career Arnold Palmer Award as the tour's leading money winner, earning just under $10.9 million. The highlight of Woods' stellar season came on August 12, when he won the PGA Championship to collect his 13th career major title. He also closed strong by capturing the inaugural FedEx Cup, winning a pair of tour playoff events.

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Woods Going Back to Dubai

By Mark Garrod
SportsTicker

Tiger Woods confirmed Tuesday he will be returning to the Middle East next year for the Dubai Desert Classic at the end of January. "I always enjoy visiting Dubai, it's an extremely hospitable place where the people and the tournament organizers treat the players so well," he said. "The level of competition is always extremely high so I know I'll have to play my best golf if I'm going to win the title again." The 2006 champion, third behind Henrik Stenson and Ernie Els earlier this year, will be making his fifth appearance in the United Arab Emirates, where he is developing a 7,800-yard course. "We are naturally delighted and proud that Tiger Woods has agreed to join us," said Mohamed Buamaim, vice chairman and chief executive office of promoters and organizers. "Having the world's greatest golfer play in your event is something many tournament organizers dream of, so for us to be able to welcome him for the fifth time in eight years is a major boost for golf in the Middle East, especially Dubai."

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