Woods feeling confident after improved performance Friday  PGATOUR.com Chief of Correspondents BETHESDA, Md. -- Don't worry, he didn't bend it over his knee out of frustration. All Tiger Woods did last night was put a little lead tape on his putter.  (WireImage)
The heavier putter on greens that were a "touch on the slow side" worked wonders for Woods during the second round of the AT&T National. The man who couldn't get the ball to the hole on Thursday suddenly was making putts from all over. Woods went from tied for 77th and flirting with the cut to a share of 12th, as a result. The tournament host only used 25 putts Friday -- nine fewer than the first round -- in shooting 66 that was five strokes better than his opener. How bad was his putting Thursday? Well, Woods had four three-putts. Entering the AT&T National, the game's No. 1 player only had made nine all year. But 45 minutes on the practice green Thursday helped Woods get a feel for how much lead tape he needed to use. Once that was fixed, his abundant talent took over on this toasty and testy Friday morning. Woods now starts the weekend in red numbers again at 1 under, six strokes off the lead held jointly by Stuart Appleby and K.J. Choi. Billy Andrade, who stands 4 under, jokingly said it was nice that Woods had found a cure for what ailed him. "Most normal golfers, you might go through a funk six months, and you can't find your putting stroke -- never mind six hours, you know," Andrade said with a big grin. "So I'm glad that he 'found' whatever he lost there for a day." Woods said he was just trying to get himself back into the tournament. He knew Congressional was showing its teeth on Friday, and he figured if he could get back to even for the tournament he might have a chance on the weekend. "I feel like I at least gave myself a chance where if I play two good rounds, I have a chance of winning the tournament, instead of having to play one great round or even two great rounds to get myself into that same position," Woods said. Mission accomplished. Woods said he felt "like I did some good work today" --- not that anyone was surprised by the turnaround. "It's like playing the British Open, expecting it to blow every day," Appleby said. "You don't have to look up and know it's windy; you don't have to look up and know Tiger is going to be there." What a player chooses to do with that knowledge is the key to success or failure, the Aussie said. "You know he's not going backwards," Appleby explained. "So it's up to you to decide whether you think that's something to be worried about or something, just keep driving on forward. "You know he doesn't give a rat's ass about what you're doing and he's just going to focus on his game. That's why when he's leading, he just knuckles down and does his thing and knows that if he concentrates and put himself in a position that that's going to apply pressure to everybody else." Woods started on the back nine Friday and made the turn in 1 under. He added a birdie on the first hole and came up with a clutch bogey on the sixth before ending his round with three consecutive birdies on putts of 8, 6 and 14 feet. "I made that good save on 6 for bogey, and then I just tried to keep that positive momentum going," Woods said. "I hit good shot after good shot on last three holes, and lo and behold, three birdies in a row." Now that he's found his comfort zone, Woods is ready to take the next step. A win in the inaugural AT&T National, one that he hosts and benefits his foundation, would delight the crowds that have turned out in force this week. "How?" Woods said, repeating the question. "Well, I'm going to have to play a little bit better than I did yesterday, and probably hit the ball a little bit cleaner than I did today and make just as many putts." Don't put it past him. |
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