Tiger leads, Fritsch only 3 back
SAN DIEGO • Tiger Woods made it look easy on a dreary day at Torrey Pines and wound up in a place he hasn’t been in five years.
He had the 36-hole lead by himself at one of his favourite PGA Tour stops.
Woods was at 11-under 133 and had a two-shot lead over Billy Horschel and three-shot lead over six other players, including Canadian rookie Brad Fritsch. The Ottawa native shot a 5-under 67.
Woods didn’t miss a shot during a four-hole stretch around the turn on the North Course that included a 5-iron to 5 feet for eagle and a wedge that one-hopped off the pin to set up birdie. It carried him to a 7-under 65 on Friday and gave him a two-shot lead in the Farmers Insurance Open.
“I feel good right now,” Woods said. “I’m leading the tournament.”
Graham DeLaet of Weyburn, Sask., shot a 70 to tie for 16th, while Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., struggled to a 74 to drop into a tie for 31st.
Mike Weir made the cut for the first time since July 2011 despite a sloppy finish for a 75 on the South. The Bright’s Grove, Ont., golfer was tied for 41st at 3-under 141.
Already a favourite with seven wins as a pro at Torrey Pines, Woods had even more in his favour going into the weekend. He had a 74-0 edge in PGA Tour wins against the next seven players behind him.
Horschel, who had to go back to Q-school to get his card last year, had a 69 on the South Course to get into final group.
Woods is coming off a missed cut in Abu Dhabi last week to start his year.
“I’ve had beautiful practice sessions at home,” he said. “If I can do it there, I can do it out here.”