Date: August 03, 2013
Author: Omnisport

Woods takes Firestone lead

Tiger Woods has just missed out on a career-best score of 59 after a dominant second-round performance at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Woods shot a nine-under 61 at the Firestone Country Club to storm into a seven-stroke lead in Akron, Ohio, while fellow American Keegan Bradley and Chris Wood of England share second. Having won the Bridgestone Invitational on seven previous occasions, Woods clearly enjoys Firestone but even so, Friday&aposs second round was a performance out of the box as the 37-year-old world number one reached nine under after 13 holes. Woods had previously shot a 61 at Firestone in 2000 and looked on track to break the magical 60-shot mark until five straight pars to finish the round saw him miss out. Friday&aposs round of 61 was the fourth time Woods had achieved that score in his career. The veteran started with two birdies split by an eagle on the par-five second hole, while four consecutive birdies to begin the back nine saw Woods streak away from the field. Bradley started his second round on the back nine with two straight birdies but two bogeys on the run home meant the reigning champion had to settle for a two-under 68, while Wood bogeyed the 18th hole to slip back to six under and into a share of second with the world number 17. Wood and Bradley sit one shot ahead of American Bill Haas and Sweden&aposs Henrik Stenson, while Jim Furyk, Luke Donald of England, Jason Dufner and Bubba Watson are tied for sixth at four under overall. Overnight leader Webb Simpson plummeted down the leaderboard on Friday with a five-over 75 to finish the day at one under in a tie for 16th. Australia&aposs best performer, Adam Scott, is three shots adrift of Simpson after a two-under 68, while Jason Day (six over overall), Brett Rumford (10 over) and Daniel Popovic (16 over) are well off the pace.