Woods stays in contention

Tiger Woods tiptoed tidily, if at times tentatively, around Muirfield today but still took a giant stride towards fulfilling his ambition of becoming the first golfer to win a Grand Slam in a calendar year.

Fri, 19 Jul, 2002 - 21:56

The world number one ended the day on four under par after shooting a 68 which included not a single dropped shot but which was notable only for its ordinariness.

That is not a word used too often to describe the talents of the richest and most famous sportsman in the world.

But Woods has barely holed a putt in 36 holes. His driving has been conservative, his iron play safe rather than spectacular.

Yet there he lies, in spitting distance of the lead at the halfway stage of an Open which, for all the talk of it being the most open for years, is looking increasingly vulnerable to the relentless strength and consistency of Woods.

‘‘I’ve played beautifully the last two days,’’ said Woods.

‘‘I’ve hit the ball really well and haven’t really put myself in danger. Anytime you are near the lead in a major championship you have got to be happy.’’

It all sounded somewhat conservative from arguably the most exciting sportsman on the planet.

The truth is, however, that if the putts had dropped - another half a dozen either lipped out or shaved the hole today - we might be talking already in terms of another Woods procession to glory.

As it was only one a couple of putts of any length dropped throughout his flawless round today - an 18-footer at the 475-yards par four 10th which saved par and ensured the momentum the most notable.

‘‘I hit some good putts out there that just didn’t go in but it was just one of those days,’’ said Woods.

‘‘I had to stay as patient as possible. I feel comfortable with the putts. The stroke is good and they’re just not dropping.’’

Not entirely accurate because, as well as the one at 10 to save par, he also holed another from 15 feet at 17 for the birdie which took him into touching distance of the lead.

He admitted to feeling confident about his position, adding: ‘‘This golf course is absolutely fantastic and it’s set up very fair.

‘‘I don’t think about it being a major championship and I have to go out there and shoot 62. That’s not how I play.

‘‘You play golf one shot at a time and this golf course is the epitome of that. I’m going to work a bit on my putting just to try to stay comfortable.

‘‘It’s hard to shoot a really low number on this course because if you miss a tee shot you are going to pay the price, but more than anything these pins have been put on knobs and crests and it’s really hard to get the ball close.’’

It was something Justin Rose failed to do on a day when he returned to reality after the euphoria of out-scoring Woods in the great man’s company in the opening round.

An errant tee shot at the opening hole, followed by an approach which found a greenside bunker, set things rolling with an untidy bogey.

A double bogey at the par three fourth when he missed a two-foot tap-in saw him spoil all the good work of the opening day, though there was still much to admire in the battling qualities of the youngest player in the field.

A birdie on the par five ninth was cancelled out by a bogey at the next and the putting gremlins returned at the 15th when he missed another ‘gimme’ of around 18 inches.

The lack of concentration threatened to cost him his place at the weekend but he manfully parred his way in over the last four to finish at one over par and squeeze into the last two rounds.

Playing with Woods had proved a salutary lesson - one round does not make a champion.

British Open Leaderboard

6 under - Ernie Els (Rsa) (36)

Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) (36)

Padraig Harrington (36)

Duffy Waldorf (USA) (36)

Bob Tway (USA) (36)

5 under - Soren Hansen (Den) (36)

Carl Pettersson (Swe) (36)

Des Smyth (36)

4 under - Colin Montgomerie (36)

Nick Price (Zim) (36)