SYDNEY, (Reuters) – Tiger Woods flourished in balmy morning conditions to claim one-stroke advantage halfway through the Australian Open yesterday, leading a tournament overnight for the first time this year.
The 35-year-old former world number one was delighted with his round of 67 to reach the clubhouse at nine under par, a shot clear of local veteran Peter O’Malley, whose six-under 66 was the lowest score of the day.
Australia’s world number seven Jason Day, who played with his boyhood hero Woods in front of packed galleries at the Lakes course for the first two rounds, was a further shot back in third on seven-under after a 68.
Almost two years since his 95th and last title at the Australian Masters, though, most attention was focused on the fortunes of the greatest golfer of the last couple of decades, some say of all time.
Fourteen-times major winner Woods, who earlier this week expressed his belief that he could once again dominate golf, was in no doubt he is playing as well as he has since his return from injury and reconstructing his swing.
“It feels good that I am there playing properly, it’s not like I am slashing it all over the place. I am hitting the ball well,” Woods said after a seven-birdie, two bogey effort.
“I have hit so many lips these first two days,” he added, lamenting several shots he let slip away. “It could have been pretty low.”
Woods led the field during the final round of this year’s U.S. Masters but the last time he led at the end of a day’s play was at his own Chevron World Challenge last December, when he blew a three-shot lead on the final day.
“At Chevron I hit it with one shot,” he said. “I hit basically a draw for the entire week. Right now I am able to move the ball both ways.”
Eyes wide shut
O’Malley was another of the early starters and made good use of his local knowledge and his unorthodox ‘eyes shut’ putting technique to record a flawless round.
“Being a member, I do play here a lot,” the 46-year-old said. “I know where to hit it. The greens are still pretty tricky to read and you have to get the speed right.”
