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| October 26, 2003 | Sunday | Sha’aban 29, 1424 |
Singh leads as Woods ties cut record
LAKE BUENA VISTA (Florida), Oct 25: Tiger Woods on Friday made his 113th consecutive cut on the PGA Tour, matching the great Byron Nelson’s 54-year-old record.
And though Woods was more concerned at the birdie putts he failed to make on the Magnolia course to fall four strokes behind halfway leader Vijay Singh, he was most satisfied with his accomplishment.
“I’m very proud,” he said. “It’s not something that is easy to do. There are times when I should have missed. A little luck and a lot of hard work has paid off.”
It’s tough to compare eras in any sport, including golf. Even though Woods’ streak includes 23 events that did not have a cut, he has demonstrated sustained excellence in an era of perhaps unparalleled depth.
Woods struck the ball nicely Friday, hitting all but one fairway and 15 greens in regulation, but he was bamboozled by the greens.
Woods paid tribute to Nelson - the golfer and the human being.
While Woods was on his way to a bit of history, Singh was savoring a back nine 29 en route to a seven-under-par 65 on the Palm, the easier of the two courses.
He was a little slow to rub the sleep from his eyes on a delightful morning, playing his front nine in even par. But once he woke up there was no stopping him as he reeled off five straight birdies, starting at his 10th hole, followed by an eagle two holes later.
At 15-under 129, Singh was a stroke better than Bob Estes (63) and two in front of John Rollins (65) and David Peoples (66).
Woods has won the money title the past five years and has a narrow lead over Singh this season, US$171,239 to be precise.
This is Singh’s 25th tour event this year and just the 17th for Woods.
Davis Love also still is in the running. He helped his cause with a 65 that left him only three strokes off the lead.
Seventy-nine players made the cut, which fell at 139. It was the final chance for some players to remain exempt for next year, because not every tour member will get in next week’stournament.
Leading second round scores
129 - Vijay Singh (FIJ) 64-65
130 - Bob Estes 67-63
131 - John Rollins 66-65, David Peoples 65-66
132 - Brent Schwarzrock 67-65, Bob Tway 67-65, Scott Verplank 66-66, Stewart Cink 67-65, Davis Love 67-65, Rocco Mediate 65-67
133 - Tiger Woods 66-67
134 - Tim Clark (RSA) 69-65, Retief Goosen (RSA) 70-64, Briny Baird 72-62, Fred Couples 68-66, Dan Forsman 65-69, Tom Carter 67-67
135 - Brenden Pappas (RSA) 63-72, Hidemichi Tanaka (JPN) 69-66—135
136 - Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 66-70, Stephen Ames (TRI) 72-64
137 - John Senden (AUS) 70-67, Carl Pettersson (SWE) 70-67
138 - Mathew Goggin (AUS) 71-67, Peter Lonard (AUS) 69-69, Esteban Toledo (MEX) 72-66, Nick Price (ZIM) 70-68, Anthony Painter (AUS) 73-65
139 - Aaron Baddeley (AUS) 69-70, Deane Pappas (RSA) 66-73, Rory Sabbatini (RSA)
68-71, Jesper Parnevik (SWE) 70-69.—AFP
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