Tiger sets up back nine charge with magical approach
SAN DIEGO (Reuters) - Seven strokes off the U.S. Open lead with nine holes to play in Friday's second round, Tiger Woods conjured a moment of magic to spark a spectacular charge.
The American world number one had pushed his tee shot right of a cart path on the par-four first, his 10th hole, from where he struck an 157-yard eight-iron to 20 feet right of the flag.
Woods calmly rolled in the birdie putt, setting the tone for an explosive homeward nine of five-under-par 30 that left him tied for second place, a stroke behind leader Stuart Appleby of Australia.
"I just happened to just get a great break," Woods told reporters of his second shot at the first, which he threaded under a tree and over a greenside bunker.
"Not only did I have a swing and a stance but I also had a lie where I could control my distance. I wasn't trying to do anything particular with that shot, just trying to dump it in the center of the green.
"And I hit up there pin-high with an eight-iron and capitalized on it."
Woods, who again shrugged off pain in his left knee while negotiating the 7,643-yard South Course at Torrey Pines, drained a 20-footer to birdie the second and an uphill putt from 25 feet for another birdie at the fourth.
Roared on by huge galleries on an overcast afternoon, he picked up further shots at the fifth and ninth for a three-under 68 and a two-under total of 140.
"Today I was just trying to get back to even par, to be honest with you," said the 13-times major winner, who had arthroscopic surgery on his knee two days after finishing second at the Masters in mid-April.
FLYING IN
"That's all I was trying to do. And I just happened to make a couple more putts. I didn't really hit it close. I just made about some 15, 20-footers and got on a roll that way. They started flying in from everywhere.
"I shot 30 on my back nine in a U.S. Open, that's not too bad. I'm in great shape so far. I'm right there."
Woods, U.S. Open champion at Pebble Beach in 2000 and at Bethpage in 2002, accepts the players will face a tougher challenge at Torrey Pines over the weekend with the course becoming firmer and faster.
"You're just at the halfway point, you're just trying to play and position yourself," the 32-year-old said. "This golf course is only going to get harder and more difficult.
"It was a big-time grind out there today. The golf course is getting fast, and even though the cloud cover came over, the marine layer came over, the greens are still quick.
"It doesn't take much, just make a couple of mistakes here and there. This golf course will bite you quick. And you just have to hang in there and stay patient."
As for his problem knee, Woods said: "All I can tell you is it's sore. It is what it is. Nothing more, nothing less."
(Editing by Alastair Himmer)
