Perry seizes one-shot lead
2008-05-10 07:24
Ponte Vedra, Florida - Kenny Perry, seeking his first PGA title in almost three years, took a one-stroke lead on Friday at the halfway stage of the nine million-dollar Players Championship.
Perry posted a two-under 70 at TPC Sawgrass, overcoming windy conditions to nab three birdies with just one bogey.
His six-under total of 138 put him one in front of first-round leader Sergio Garcia, Bernhard Langer and Paul Goydos.
"Very proud of the round," Perry said. "It was the kind of day where you could shoot a big number in a hurry. I was very patient, drove the ball good again today. The secret to my round, I putted great. I made a lot of nice four- to eight-footers for par all day today."
Perry, a 22-year PGA tour veteran, hasn't won a tour event since May 2005, when he captured the Colonial, 68-event drought.
Perry teed off at 10 and birdied the par-five 11th and the par-five 16th.
He opened his back nine with another birdie at the par-four first hole before losing a stroke with a bogey at eight.
Perry has struggled previously at this event, failing to finish inside the top 20 in 17 of his 19 career appearances. His best finish at this tournament came in 2004, when he tied for third. He said the brutal winds were the toughest scoring conditions he could remember at the event.
'I probably deserved a little more than I got'
"I've probably played here 18, 20 tournaments, I don't know how many," he said. "That was probably the hardest conditions in all my years I can ever remember hitting that golf shot today. ... To me, (the greens) were very difficult. I couldn't get the ball to stay around the hole. It was releasing a lot and away."
Spain's Garcia, who led by one shot after the first round, appeared poised to maintain his lead but suffered a disastrous finish.
He double-bogeyed the par-three 17th hole en route to a second-round score of one-over 73.
"Unfortunately, I shot the highest score I could today," Garcia said. "I drove the ball unbelievable and hit a lot of good iron shots."
Despite the wind, Garcia didn't miss a single fairway.
"I probably deserved a little more than I got," Garcia said. "I felt I was in control of what I was doing. It was really difficult out there."
Garcia's double bogey at the par-three 17th, with its famous island green, came when his tee shot landed on the narrow strip of land that connects the green to the rest of the course.
"I felt like I could flop it a little and have a chance of making par, but it took a huge hop and went all the way to the other side of the green," said Garcia, who had a poor chip and a missed putt to drop two strokes.
Lots of opportunities
After an outstanding opening round, Garcia found himself tied with the 50-year-old Langer, who fired a five-under 67 following his first-round 72.
A two-time Masters champion, Langer recorded the best score of the round, holing an eagle and six birdies against three bogeys.
"I hit the ball really well, had lots of opportunities," said Germany's Langer, who revealed he was playing in pain. "My back's been sore, my knee, my shoulder. The physios have been a great help, otherwise I probably wouldn't be able to play."
The second-oldest player in the field, Langer notched an eagle and four birdies in his first eight holes. Later, at the island-green 17th, his tee shot barely cleared the water, stopping on the front of the green.
Goydos also eagled the third hole, but he was inconsistent through the day, with three birdies and four bogeys en route to his 71.
Anthony Kim carded a 70 for the second straight day to stand alone in fourth place, ahead of fellow American Boo Weekley who posted a 71 for 141.
Defending champion Phil Mickelson and South African Ernie Els were among four players tied for 12th on one-under.