Tiger Woods stretched his U.S. Open lead to a commanding six shots after returning early Saturday morning to Pebble Beach Golf Links to finish his second round. Woods stood at nine under par, three shots better than Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez, after sinking a 30-foot birdie putt at the par-3 12th hole when play was halted on Friday due to darkness.
The world number one resumed his round at 1:30pm Irish time and after playing his remaining six holes in one over par saw his lead swell to six as Jimenez took four bogeys after picking up his round at the 8th hole. Woods, after balancing a bogey with a birdie, had pushed his lead to seven strokes, but dropped a shot at the last hole after driving his tee shot into the rocky shore left of the ocean-front hole.
"I'm pleased to get in with what I had," said Woods, chasing a third major title to go along with his 1997 Masters and 1999 PGA Championship crowns. Woods looked set to claim the biggest 36-hole advantage in the history of the Open. The biggest lead ever taken in the 99 previous U.S. championships was five strokes by Willie Anderson in the 1903 championship at Baltusrol. Anderson ended up winning the title in a playoff.
In the clubhouse at two under par was Thomas Bjorn of Denmark, one stroke ahead of double Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain and Kirk Triplett. Finished at even-par 142 were John Huston, Hal Sutton and Briton Lee Westwood, who climbed up the chart with an eagle at the 18th. Padraig Harrington carded a level par 71, to be two over and shared the 11th spot. Darren Clarke is four over par after his two rounds but is expected to make the cut.
Reuters
