Golf:Americans Rickie Fowler and Ryan Moore both went low at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Akron to join Australian Adam Scott in the lead on eight under after the overnight pacesetter failed to make ground. Fowler almost took the outright lead but a bogey at the ninth, his last, meant he signed for a 64, one shot more than Scott had carded yesterday.
Moore was two under through five before three consecutive bogeys form the seventh undid the good work. However, five birdies on the way in ensured he signed for a 66 the same score in the opening round.
The 22-year-old Fowler sank his 109-yard pitch to the third for an eagle two and added eight birdies and four bogeys.
American Keegan Bradley joined the leaders on eight under later in the daym while Australian jason Day was on the same score after 16 holes of his second round.
Tiger Woods will rue some costly errors on day two after yesterday’s opening 68 was overshadowed by one-over-par 71, leaving him one over and seven off the lead.
The former world number one who is playing his first tournament since damaging knee ligaments at The Players’ Championship, demonstrated his resilience after a poor beginning.
Woods appeared set to rescue par at the 14th when, after driving into sand, he pitched to two feet. However he missed the putt and then failed to get up and down from just off the green at the next.
After those setbacks Woods could not have played the 16th and 17th any better. On the par five he was in perfect position for two, pitched over the water to 10 feet and made the putt; he then struck a 175-yard approach to six feet at the next for another birdie.
He bounced back twice more, first after a bogey on the fourth with a birdie at the next and then after a double bogey at the sixth. He found the right rough off the tee and went into a bunker with his second before coming out far too strongly to take three more from the fringe.
A birdie at the par-three seventh was his immediate response but it still meant he had to settle for a 71, one-over-par for the day and back to one under for the tournament.
Playing partner and Open champion Darren Clarkewould have loved such form. After his 77 yesterday, he improved, but his 74 left him 11 over and propping up the table.
Rory McIlroywas best of hte Irish on four under after a 68 after opening birdie-bogey, before picking up shots at the 13th and the last.
Pádraig Harrington'sround was far from straight forward but four bogeys were cancelled out by as many birdies and the Dubliner settled on one over.
Graeme McDowellbirdied his second to move back to level par but carded five bogeys on the way to a 72 and dropped back to three-over-par.
Scotland's Martin Laird produced the sort of finish Woods would love to have had when he birdied Firestone's final three holes to add a 67 to his opening 66 and move to seven under. one shot off the lead.
Laird, winner of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March, had mixed three birdies with three bogeys as he came to the long 16th, but struck an 83-yard pitch to four feet there and closed with putts of seven and 15 feet.
