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A20 SPORTS
Saturday 13 april 2019
Tiger makes a Masters logjam look even larger

By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Tiger
Woods made the largest
logjam in Masters history
look even bigger by mak-
ing Augusta National sound
as loud as ever.
Even on a Friday, in the rain.
Golf’s best worked their
way to the top of the lea-
derboard at a Masters
pregnant with possibilities.
The first five-way tie for the
lead after 36 holes at Au-
gusta featured Francesco
Molinari, Jason Day, Brooks
Koepka, Adam Scott and
Louis Oosthuizen.
All of them are major cham-
pions. Three have been No.
1 in the world.
Looming just as large was
Woods, who atoned for
missing two birdie chances
inside 8 feet on the back
nine with consecutive bird-
ie putts from 30 feet that
sent him to a 4-under 68
and left him one shot be-
hind.
Woods was tied with Dustin
Johnson, another ma-
jor champion and world
No. 1, along with Xander Jason Day, of Australia, hits on the 17th hole during the second round for the Masters golf tournament Friday, April 12, 2019, in
Schauffele and Masters Augusta, Ga.
newcomer Justin Harding Associated Press
of South Africa. Molinari, the British Open ternoon.” came on the 14th hole, three shots from 35 feet be-
If that’s not enough, Phil champion who has shown Scott was the only player when his drive went well left hind the par-5 13th green
Mickelson and Justin Thom- he belongs among the elite to reach 8 under with a into the trees. The shot was to lose another prime birdie
as were very much in the in golf, had a 67 and was 2-iron into 5 feet for eagle pure, hooking around the opportunity. But he made it
mix. the first to reach 7-under on the 15th, only to miss a pines to the green. On his up for them with a couple
“This is really stacked,” 137. Day was right behind, 3-foot par putt on the 16th. quick walk to the fairway of long birdie putts, and he
Scott said. “I think it’s going coping with nagging sore- It added up to a 68 for the to see where the shot fin- had no complaints with his
to be an incredible week- ness in his lower back with Australian who won the ished, a Georgia Bureau of position.
end no matter what hap- a 67 to match the Italian. Masters six years ago, and Investigation agent rushing “I feel like I played my own
pens now.” Koepka, the U.S. Open and has gone three years since over to control the specta- way back into the tourna-
Woods has gone 14 years PGA champion, began his last victory. tors behind Woods slipped ment,” Woods said. “I was
since he last won the green with a birdie to quickly take He had a chance to win on the rain-slickened grass just very patient today, felt
jacket, 11 years since his the lead, only to hit out of the PGA Championship in and slid into Woods’ right very good to be out there
last major and had five sur- the pine straw, off a tree his last major until Koepka leg. doing what I was doing.
geries — four on his back, and into the creek to make pulled away and Scott Woods hopped out of the This is now three straight
the other to rebuild his left double bogey on the par- made a careless bogey at way, winced and repeat- majors that I’ve been in the
knee. 5 second hole. He made the end to finish third. He edly flexed his ankle, and mix and so it’s good stuff.”
But he feels he’s getting two more bogeys before has shown flashes this year then poured in another Mickelson stumbled to a
closer. reaching the seventh hole, on the West Coast, at Tor- putt. 73 but still was only three
“The last three majors, I’ve and then pulled himself to- rey Pines and Riviera, but He didn’t show any trouble shots behind. Bryson De-
been right there,” Woods gether to salvage a 71. has geared his game to- the rest of the way, and Chambeau, who shared
said. “You’re going to be tested ward this week. didn’t find much interest the 18-hole lead with Ko-
He briefly held the lead in a major championship Here he is, with a lot of in talking about it after his epka, went bogey-double
Sunday in the British Open. one way or another,” Ko- company. round except to say “acci- bogey around the turn and
He chased Koepka to the epka said. “I hit a bad shot; “Look, tomorrow is a very dents happen” and “it’s all shot 75. He still was within
finish line in the PGA Cham- just got to suck it up and important day because good.” He was particularly four shots, along with Justin
pionship. And now he goes just keep going on. You’ve there’s no doubt someone happy to finish, especially Thomas, who had a 68.
into the weekend one shot got a lot of holes left, and in the top 15, or a few of after storms moved into As for Rory McIlroy, the
behind, the closest he has you can make up some them, are going to play the area and stopped play career Grand Slam might
been to a lead going into ground. Thankfully, it wasn’t very well,” Scott said. “This right after his tee shot into 5 need to wait another year.
the weekend at a major on the 18th hole where you is the best players in the feet on the dangerous par- McIlroy played the par 5s in
since the 2013 British Open need a par to win or some- world on the biggest stage 3 12th. even — two bogeys, one
at Muirfield. thing. Just got to keep that we all want to be in so The delay lasted only 29 par and an eagle on No.
But that’s not just anyone battling and see where I badly.” minutes. Woods returned to 8 that got him under par,
he’s trailing. leave myself tomorrow af- The only scare for Woods miss the putt, and then took but only briefly. He was only