Conners leads, but Woods is one back
Tiger Woods chipped in from behind the ninth green and the roar was unmistakable, the tree-rattling variety that belongs to only one player in golf. Moments later, Woods raised the putter in his left hand as another birdie putt dropped for a share of the lead at the Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla.
Corey Conners heard the whole round and it made him smile.
Never mind that Conners had six birdies in his round of 3-under 68 for a one-shot lead Saturday as he tries for his first PGA Tour victory. Even the players trying to beat Woods got swept up in the emotions of seeing him closer than ever to having a chance to win again.
“I can confirm he’s back. The roars are back,” said Brandt Snedeker, who was along for the ride with Woods and matched his 67. “It’s fun to hear the crowd going crazy again and realize how excited we are in having him back out here and play the way he is. He’s playing great.”
Conners, the Canadian rookie in only his 17th start on the PGA Tour as a pro, saved par from the bunker on the par-3 17th and kept his cool when his ball moved slightly on the 18th green — no longer a penalty in those circumstances – before he tapped in for par.
He was at 9-under 204 and will play with Justin Rose (66), who joined Woods and Snedeker at one shot behind.
For the second straight day, Woods and his thousands upon thousands of fans will be ahead of him.
So he at least knows what to expect.
“I kind of knew what was going on without even having to see it,” Conners said. “But it will be cool. I’m sure he’ll be battling hard tomorrow.”
Conners smiled when he heard the cheer for Woods when he chipped in at No. 9.
For so many years, such a roar caused far more consternation than celebration among the rest of the field. Conners grew up idolizing Woods for his 14 majors and 79 victories on the PGA Tour.
Madison’s Steve Stricker had a 70 and was seven shots back.
Champions Tour: Tom Pernice Jr. remained patient in cool, rainy and breezy conditions and held onto a one-shot lead after two rounds of the Toshiba Classic in Newport Beach, Calif.
Pernice shot a 1-under 70 with a sloppy bogey on the par-5 18th as the leader board began to bunch up.
Joe Durant, Scott McCarron and Vijay Singh were among the players who challenged Pernice throughout the afternoon, and 13 players were within four shots of the lead.
Madison’s Jerry Kelly fired a 70 and trailed by six.