Schwartzel hails pal Louis as tips spark him to life

BY DALE RANKIN CHARL SCHWARTZEL had pal Louis Oosthuizen to thank for finally putting his surprisingly poor Players Championship record behind him.

On another ideal morning for low scoring at TPC Sawgrass, the South African, without a top-25 finish in seven starts at the tournament, showed glimpses of what he is capable of with a bogey-free six-under 66.

At 10-under, Schwartzel and American Patrick Cantlay had one stroke clubhouse lead from American Chesson Hadley, while Tiger Woods was in danger of failing to make the cut after another poor round.

Woods carded 71 for oneunder 143, nine strokes behind Schwartzel and Cantlay.

Schwartzel, who has won only twice in 173 starts on the PGA Tour, has been coming into form with a third place alongside Oosthuizen in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans followed by a top-10 finish at Quail Hollow on Sunday.

And he put his recent resurgence down to advice on swing tempo he received from his compatriot.

Schwartzel, who dropped just one shot in his first 36 holes, said: “If I can keep the right tempo going I’m going to keep hitting good shots.

“I’ve been making a bunch of birdies in the last few weeks and making just as many bogeys. The difference this week is obviously making a lot less bogeys.”

Once ranked as high as sixth in the world, Schwartzel has dropped to 62nd after an indifferent couple of years. He added: “My last two years have been pretty frustrating.”

Schwartzel has never finished inside the top 25 at Sawgrass but a new approach is paying dividends.

He said: “It’s the first time I’ve not come here from South Africa. I normally go back to South Africa after Augusta then fly from there and start with this tournament.

“I’ve played my way into it and it’s now the way to go. It’s a hard tournament to come to after a three-week break.”

Woods carded two birdies and one bogey in his second round of 71. The former world No.1 said: “I was just a touch off today. I didn’t make many birdies. I had my chances. I didn’t hit it close enough.

“The course could have been had today. It’s so hot, it’s playing short, the greens are receptive.”

“I didn’t quite swing it right and I didn’t quite have the shape or ball flight.

“With these greens as soft as they are, I didn’t take advantage of the opportunities I had to really shoot a good number.”

Cantlay, in his second Players Championship, was delighted to have carded a 68.

He said: “My game has been trending in the right direction.”

Hadley was a shot off the pace after dropping three shots in his last two holes, with Jason Day – who is seeking back-toback wins following victory in the Wells Fargo Championship last week – part of a four-strong group another stroke back on eight under.

Hadley threatened to break clear of the field but found the water at the island-green par-three 17th, before adding a bogey at the last.

He said: “I didn’t hit the shot the way I wanted to but I didn’t feel like I hit it bad enough for it not to get to the front of the green. It might have caught a gust but it’s my fault at the end of the day.”