Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Friday 6 december 2019
Reed builds 3-shot lead in Bahamas as Tiger rallies

By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) —
A tropical breeze replaced
the raging wind and made
golf a lot easier for Patrick
Reed, Tiger Woods and just
about everyone else Thurs-
day in the Hero World Chal-
lenge. Reed took advan-
tage of the back nine at Al-
bany Golf Club for the sec-
ond straight day. He was
tied for the lead until mak-
ing six birdies over his last 10
holes for a 6-under 66 that
gave him a three-shot lead
over U.S. Open champion
Gary Woodland.
“It’s one of those golf cours-
es that when the wind lays
down, it gives you oppor-
tunities to make birdies,”
Reed said. “But when the
wind starts blowing, the
golf course can get really
challenging. You need to
give yourself as many op-
portunities as you can.”
Reed was at 12-under 132. Tiger Woods tees off at the 10th hole of Albany Golf Club as Bubba Watson and his caddie look during the second round of the Hero
Woods, playing for the first World Challenge in Nassau, Bahamas, Thursday Dec. 5 2019.
time since he won in Japan Associated Press
for his record-tying 82nd tries to win his holiday event better because I can ro- who withdrew from the Ba- pionship on Aug. 25.
career victory on the PGA for the first time since 2011. tate, and I can putt the hamas to have one more All but three players broke
Tour, kept a clean card to “I just think it was less ball better because I can week for his knee to recov- par, and the high score be-
match Reed’s 66 and re- windy,” Woods said. “It was get down and read putts er, plans to fly in on Satur- longed to Bubba Watson
main six shots behind. Un- a little bit easier today.” again,” Woods said. “To- day to join the rest of the and Chez Reavie at 73.
like the opening round, Once he got through the ward the end of the year, I Americans on the charter. Reed is playing this week
when Woods started poorly front nine, where he spent couldn’t do that.” Defending champion Jon with a set of prototype
and ended even worse much of the time scram- Woodland, who makes his Rahm also had a 66 to irons he has been work-
to wipe out a good back bling for pars outside of a Presidents Cup debut next match the low round of the ing on, and he’s keeping it
nine, he played bogey-free lone birdie, Woods didn’t week, lost ground with con- day, leaving him four shots private until the new year.
and made up ground on miss too many shots com- secutive bogeys that left behind with Henrik Stenson, Golf Channel reported ear-
the back nine. ing in. A week before he him six shots behind at one who had a 67. lier this week that the com-
It started with a 6-iron that heads over to Australia as point. He fixed that by fin- Woods was in the group pany was Japan-based
hopped onto the green at the playing captain for the ishing with three straight at 6-under 138 along with Grindworks. He also has a
the par-5 11th and rolled 7 U.S. team in the Presidents birdies for a 69 and will be Rickie Fowler and Justin new putter.
feet away for an eagle. He Cup, the game looked to paired with Reed again on Thomas, who each shot 69. They appear to be work-
followed with a 7-iron to 8 be in order. Friday for the third round. Fowler, who got married ing, especially at the end.
feet for another birdie. He Woods attributed that to The tournament ends Sat- during his offseason and Coming off a bogey, Reed
didn’t make up any ground the minor knee surgery in urday so the American then missed a tournament drilled his approach from
on Reed, but he at least late August to repair carti- team can board a charter recovering from food poi- 201 yards into 3 feet on
cut down on the number of lage damage. to Melbourne, arriving on soning, is playing for the first the final hole for a birdie to
players ahead of him as he “I can drive the ball a little Monday. Dustin Johnson, time since the Tour Cham- stretch his lead.q

MLS teams no longer will play every opponent each season

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League er conference. Nashville opens at Dallas, Salt Lake at Orlando Four more home openers are set
Soccer is breaking away from Feb. 29 at home against Atlanta and Kansas City at Vancouver. for March 14: Dallas at NYC, LA
soccer’s tradition of having each and David Beckham’s Inter Miami Games the following day include Galaxy at Miami, D.C. at Cincin-
team play every opponent in its starts March 1 at Los Angeles, the New York City at Columbus, Cin- nati and San Jose at Philadelphia.
league. MLS is expanding to 26 league said Thursday in announc- cinnati at New York Red Bulls and The final home openers are Red
teams in 2020 with the additions ing all home openers. Defending Minnesota at Portland. Bulls at Minnesota on March
of Miami and Nashville but will champion Seattle opens March 1 Home openers on March 7 are 15 and Atlanta at Chicago on
keep a 34-game regular-season against Chicago. Chicago at New England, Red March 21 as the Fire return down-
schedule. A team will play each Other Feb. 29 openers are Colo- Bulls at Salt Lake, NYC at Toronto, town to Soldier Field, their home
of its 12 conference opponents rado at D.C., New England at Cincinnati at Atlanta, Houston at from 1997-2005. The played in
home and away, and will face Montreal, LA Galaxy at Houston, Kansas City, Orlando at Colorado suburban Bridgeview from 2006
only 10 of the 13 teams in the oth- Toronto at San Jose, Philadelphia and Vancouver at LA Galaxy. through last season.q