Singh on song

Vijay Singh’s growing confidence in his game looked justified today as he moved into the hunt for a second successive Wachovia Championship victory in Charlotte.

Singh, without a win since last July and down to fourth in the world rankings, added a 68 to his opening 71 at Quail Hollow and at five under par was only four behind little-known American Bo Van Pelt.

“I’ve worked really hard in the last four weeks to get some kinks out of my golf swing,” said the Fijian, “and I have a lot of good memories here.

“I love the golf course – it’s a ball-striking golf course – and I think it’s one of the best courses we’re going to play all year. It’s great for the game.”

For much of the day it was Jim Furyk, the man he beat in a play-off for the title last year, that Singh was chasing.

But Furyk bogeyed the 16th and three-putted the 17th for a 69 and seven under aggregate while Van Pelt, yet to taste success on the US Tour, birdied the 14th and 15th to go two clear.

Singh was joint third with Davis Love until he missed a six-foot par putt on the last.

Furyk concurred with Singh’s assessment of the challenge this week.

“It’s a very good, difficult golf course,” he stated. “It’s demanding and you really have to pretty much have all aspects of your game in good shape to play well here.”

Ernie Els, another yet to win this year, fought his way onto the leaderboard, but two late bogeys meant a second successive 71 and two under total.

Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell both missed the halfway cut – Westwood for the third tournament running and McDowell for the seventh time in nine events on the US Tour this season.

It is a further blow to their hopes of qualifying for next month’s US Open - the duo need to be in the world’s top 50 at the end of this month and Westwood is currently 49th, with McDowell 86th.

Westwood, one over par overnight, played his first seven holes in one under, but finished the back nine with two bogeys, dropped another shot at the fourth and then double-bogeyed the sixth and seventh for a 78.

McDowell was also seven over after improving only one stroke on his opening 76.

Justin Rose and Luke Donald, two under and one under after the first round, were among the later starters, as was Masters champion Phil Mickelson on one under.