CHASKA, Minn. | Tiger Woods has a stranglehold on the 91st PGA Championship.
The world No. 1 bolted away from the field in the blast furnace otherwise known as Hazeltine National Golf Club on Friday, surging to 7 under and taking a four-stroke lead into the third round at the season’s final major.
“It was a lot tougher today,” Woods said after carding a 2-under 70 in steady winds that gusted to 25 mph and 90-degree heat that assaulted the field. “The wind was not only blowing, it was changing directions. … It was affecting putts a lot. The greens were bumpy. It was just a tough day all around.”
As usual, it was tougher on the scorecards of the rest of those in contention than it was on Woods’. Of the 16 players who began the day at 2 under or better behind Woods, only Woods managed to break par on the layout, which the PGA of America shortened by nearly 100 yards (to 7,575) in an attempt to soften the impact of the conditions.
Just as in last week’s finale at the Bridgestone Invitational, Woods and Ireland’s Padraig Harrington (3-under 141) were locked in a fairly compelling duel for much of the day. The Dubliner briefly matched Woods at 5 under after Woods three-putted the 10th. But once again mimicking events at Firestone, Woods pulled clear down the stretch. While Harrington faded to a back-nine 38, Woods reeled off three consecutive birdies on Nos. 14 to 16 to separate himself from Harrington and four others who finished at 3 under.
The surge began when Woods drove the 299-yard 14th hole and nearly holed a 20-foot eagle putt.
“It was a 280 [yard] carry, 290 front, and downwind. Just a perfect 3-wood for me, and I hit it flush,” Woods said. “It carried and got up on the green, and I thought I made the putt, to be honest with you. It was a little bit shy. It was nice to pick one up there and get two more after that.”
Woods chipped to within inches from the back of the par-5 15th green to add the second birdie and then rolled in a 22-footer at the treacherous 16th. Though he bogeyed the 18th after pushing his approach, Woods marched off the course knowing his flawless history as a closer is on his side. Woods has won all eight of the majors in which he has shared or held the 36-hole lead.
“All the times that I’ve been in this position, I have played well. And I’m playing well now,” Woods said. “But I got a long way to go - 36 more holes.”
The list of impressive players chasing Woods doesn’t end with Harrington, a three-time major winner and the defending PGA Championship winner. Fellow multiple major winner and former world No. 1 Vijay Singh (141) will accompany Woods in Saturday’s third round. And the group clustered at 3 under also includes newly minted U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover and England’s Ross Fisher, who has made leader board appearances in all four of the season’s majors.
“To finish bogey-bogey always leaves a little bit of a sour taste in your mouth, but I’m still in there with a good shout with 36 [holes] to go,” said Fisher, who briefly matched Woods at 5 under. “There’s only one challenge. You’ve just got to beat [Woods]. … Tiger is the greatest golfer we’ve ever seen. What better way to test yourself than playing against the best player in the world by a country mile?”
Please read our comment policy before commenting.