Friday, August 27, 2010

Woods slips back at Barclays tournament

Tiger Woods struggled on day two of The Barclays tournament in New Jersey.
Tiger Woods struggled on day two of The Barclays tournament in New Jersey.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Tiger Woods shoots a two-over par 73 on day two of The Barclays tournament
  • Woods had a share of the lead after the opening round but fell back on Friday
  • Stewart Cink shoots a round of 69 to post a reminder of his Ryder Cup credentials
  • Padraig Harrington is on five-under as he battles for a Ryder Cup wild card

Woods' return to form was dented by four bogeys on the back nine as he slipped down the leaderboard at The Barclays tournament.

The world number one shot 65 -- his best round of the year -- on the opening day at Ridgewood Country Club just days after his split from wife Elin Nordegren was confirmed after months of rumors about his personal life.

But he couldn't match his performance on Friday as he carded four bogeys on the back nine to record a round of 73. He has now slipped back to four shots off the lead, which is currently held by Australian Jason Day.

The 34-year-old played the back nine first and was two-under at the turn but things went rapidly downhill from the 11th onwards, as he made bogey on the par three hole.

He followed that by missing a two-foot putt for par on the 14th, making another bogey on the 15th, before another on the final hole completed a miserable afternoon.

I should be better than five-under par but it's neither here nor there if it stays within a few of the lead
--Padraig Harrington


Woods is hoping to show American Ryder Cup captain Corey Pavin that his form is worthy of a wild card pick for the bi-annual battle with Europe that starts in Wales in October.

Veteran Stewart Cink gave Pavin a timely reminder of his Ryder Cup credentials, as he fired a round of 69 to move to six-under.

Irishman Padraig Harrington is an a similar situation to Woods, hoping to impress European captain Colin Montgomerie as he battles to win one of three wild card spots available, and will have done his chances no harm with a round of 68 to move onto five-under.

Harrington chose not to participate in the final European Tour event at Gleneagles before the team is picked on Sunday, and is need of a good showing if he is to be included.

"I should be better than five-under par," Harrington told the PGA Tour website. "But it's neither here nor there if it stays within a few of the lead, that's fine."

English trio Paul Casey, Justin Rose and Luke Donald are also relying on a captain's pick to keep their Ryder Cup hopes alive.

Casey finished on four-under, while Rose and Donald are off the pace at one-under and even par respectively.

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