(Reuters) – Australian Oliver Goss surged into a four-way tie for the lead as Tiger Woods missed the cut after the second round of the Quicken Loans National in Maryland yesterday.
Competing in only his second PGA Tour event as a professional, the 20-year-old scrambled superbly as he piled up five birdies to card a flawless five-under-par 66 on a difficult Congressional Country Club layout bristling with thick rough.
Goss was runner-up at last year’s U.S. Amateur Championship, before finishing low amateur at this year’s Masters.
He missed the cut at last week’s Travelers Championship in his pro debut, but brought much better form to storied Congressional in leafy Bethesda just outside Washington DC.
Goss posted a six-under total of 136 to end the round level with fellow Australian Marc Leishman (66) and Americans Patrick Reed (68) and Ricky Barnes (69).
Goss hit only four of 14 fairways yesterday but used his recovery skills to the full as he reached 14 of 18 greens in regulation.
“I don’t think I hit one fairway until the 11th … but I scrambled my way pretty good today,” he told PGA Tour Radio.
“I was able to get it up and down (for par) every time I missed the green.
“It’s only my second week as a pro and being on the top of the leaderboard, it just gives you a boost of confidence.
