Sergio Garcia is enjoying the lead after two rounds at the Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, N.C. He had a record-setting back nine yesterday and complemented that good round with a one-under 71 today. He was one over at the turn but was able to gain a couple back before his round was over. Garcia’s best finish this year was T8 at the Bay Hill Invitational. He has a total of three top-ten finishes this year and is hungry for a win.
Said Garcia:
I am swinging it well and shots like the one on 18 tell you how confident I am with my swing. I mean, that two iron from 226. To hit it that close, its good to see. I’ve been playing well and I’ve finally been able to make a couple of putts here and there and you know that gets you going a little bit. On a day like today when you know that you’re going to have some four or five footers for par if you manage to make most of those it just keeps you up.
Sergio’s 66 on the first day was remarkable as the Quail Hollow Club is not a golf course that historically gives up low scores.
Joey Sindelar is doing a fantastic job of defending his title in difficult conditions. His win last year ended a 14-year drought and he is obviously enjoying the course and his opportunity to defend a title once again. He turned in a one-under 71 on a day that gave many top players fits because of wind and difficult pin placements. He had three bogeys and four birdies on the day. “I desperately did not want to come here and stub my toe and just shoot a pair of mediocre rounds and go home,” said Sindelar. That dream has come true and we’ll see how far he gets this weekend.
Vijay Singh had a solid day, carding a 3-under 69. “Putting was the most difficult thing out there. The pins were in difficult spots. They are all over little ridges. You hit it into the grain and as soon as it gets to the top you get down grains,” said Singh. “With the winds blowing like this you know you have a lot of three putts.”
D.J. Trahan came out of nowhere and was -5 after 15 holes. His eagle on the par-5 seventh and three birdies were offset by a bogey on nine. He shot even par on day one but then went five under today to secure a tie for second.
Tiger wasn’t able to capitalize on a solid start as he cooled off later in his round. “I was off to a great start. Unfortunately, I just didn’t quite keep it going,” said Woods. “I had some more opportunities to make some more birdies but slipped back. Made a couple of bogeys but then got it going early on the back nine but let it slip again.” He went on to say, “The wind was was not only swirling but it was changing direction. It was all over the place. You had to be committed to what you thought was right and hopefully you timed it up right. I did that most of the day.”
Scott Verplank went three under today and is tied with two other players for fifth. “I’ve putted very well. The golf course is playing so tough and the greens are so fast and slopey, you’ve got to be on and you’ve got to be hitting solid putts and thankfully that’s what I’ve been doing.”
Speaking of his putting Jeff Sluman said, “I’ve got to thank Chris DiMarco. I went to the claw putting last week and I’m rolling a ball I think like I used to. I’ve made a lot of putts and hit a lot of putts that got close to going in which I haven’t seen, quite frankly, in a number of years.”
The two claw putters are tied for 8th and Chris DiMarco is having another strong showing. He’s going to have to learn how to finish strong to get anywhere this weekend.
Pos Player Tot R1 R2 Tot 1 Sergio Garcia -7 66 71 137 T2 Vijay Singh -5 70 69 139 T2 Joey Sindelar -5 68 71 139 T2 D.J. Trahan -5 72 67 139 T5 Scott Verplank -4 71 69 140 T5 Brett Quigley -4 71 69 140 T5 Richard S. Johnson -4 68 72 140 T8 Jeff Sluman -3 71 70 141 T8 Chris DiMarco -3 74 67 141 T8 Jim Furyk -3 69 72 141
Photo Credits: © Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
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