Potomac (USA): Tiger Woods roared into contention for his first victory since 2013, matching the best round of his injury comeback with a five-under par 65 Friday at the US PGA Quicken Loans National golf tournament here.
A spectacular chip-in and four putts beyond 15 feet were among his seven birdies, the 14-time Major winner sharing 11th on five-under 135 after 36 holes at TPC Potomac course, only four strokes behind US co-leaders Brian Gay, Beau Hossler and Ryan Armour.
“I’m not that far from putting it together where I can win,” Woods said. “The scores aren’t going to be that low. The course is getting a little bit more difficult.”
Meanwhile It was not the kind of a birthday that Anirban Lahiri was looking for as he suffered two double bogeys and three other bogeys on way to a four-over 74 in the second round.
Lahiri, who had a fine three-under 67 on first day, needed pars on his last three holes to survive and make the cut.
Lahiri did manage to make the cut on the line at one-over 141 in tied 66th and will now be looking at strong final two rounds to make it a meaningful week.
Beau Hossler, who was runner up last week at the Travelers Championship, fired a four-under 66 to get into a share of the lead with Ryan Armour (65) and Brian Gay (64).
Starting the day at three-under, Lahiri celebrated his 31st birthday with a birdie on 10th, his first hole of the day. A birdie on 14th augured well, before he bogeyed 15th and 16th. He made amends on Par-3 17th with another birdie and turned in one-under. But on the second nine, he completely messed up the show.
Woods meanwhile remained confident about winning his first title since 2013. “I’m not that far back,” Woods said. “And it’s going to be a tough weekend. It’s going to be hot. It’s going to be long grinds.”