|
MEMPHIS, Tennessee: Windy weather and hard greens gave the field a
good preview of next week’s US Open Friday as six players shared
the lead halfway through the St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind.
Tommy Armour 3rd had a great chance to end the
day alone atop the jammed leaderboard, but a double-bogey at the
last saw him fall into the tie.
Armour posted a 1-over par 71 for his share of
the lead on 3-under 137 in the $6-million tournament.
The crowd atop the board marked the most players
tied for the lead at a PGA Tour event since the Houston Open last
year.
Boo Weekley started the day with a one-shot lead
but was 10 strokes worse on Friday and tumbled down the leaderboard
after a 75.
The 34-year-old was hardly alone as only 13
players broke par.
One of those who did get the better of the
conditions was Australian Gavin Coles, who signed for an impressive
6-under 64 to grab a share of the lead.
“I just got lucky and hit the right shot at
the right time,” said Coles, who had six birdies without a bogey.
“I just seemed to putt well. When I did get in trouble, my putter
sort of got me out of it a little.”
Michael Bradley, Jason Dufner and Dean Wilson
each shot 68 to join the lead pack and Marc Turnesa entered the fray
with a 69.
Some big names were looming a shot back. Vijay
Singh (71) and Davis Love (70) were at 2-under 138, tied for seventh
with Germany’s Alex Cejka (69) and Michael Letzig (68).
“It was tough, really tough,” Singh said.
“If the wind dies, you can shoot over the green, if it gusts, you
come up short. You’ve got to pick the right club and hit it at the
right time.”
Weekley started at No. 10 and was even at the
turn after a bogey and a birdie.
But he staggered home with three bogeys and a
double-bogey on his closing hole, the ninth.
Armour birdied 16 and had the lead by himself
but found trouble off the tee at 18.
He hit his tee shot into the water, and missed a
bogey putt from just over 17 feet that would have kept him in front
by one.
“There are 36 holes left. I make some bogeys
and doubles, it’s the way it happens,” Armour said. “You’ve
got to hit good, quality shots and I hit a lot of them today. I
played as good as I did yesterday, so I am looking forward to
tomorrow.”
-- AFP
|
