Watson has lead at Doral

Bubba Watson isn’t all that fond of the TPC Blue Monster. “This golf course really doesn’t suit me,” Watson said Friday. “Not a big fan of No. 18. I normally play it really bad.”

Imagine if he actually felt comfortable around the joint.

Carving shots around the landscape that others might not even visualize, Watson chased down playing partner Justin Rose at the Wgc-cadillac Championship at Doral, Fla., with a 10-under-par 62 that was the lowest seen around the Monster in a decade and one off the course record. Rose’s 64 left him one stroke behind.

And that may not have worked in Thursday’s blustery conditions. But with winds maxing out at little more than 15 mph across Doral Golf Resort & Spa, Watson was at the forefront of a scoring frenzy.

No fewer than 53 of the 74 entrants broke par, and Friday’s scoring average of 69.92 was the second lowest since the WGC stop settled in South Florida in 2007.

“It certainly could be had,” Tiger Woods said after his bogey-free 67. “You drive the ball well on most of the holes, you’re going to have some short irons in there and you can take advantage of it.”

Scoring conditions were so generous that Woods lost ground. Six shots off the pace to start the day, he was seven back by sundown.

Adam Scott, one of Thursday’s co-leaders, recovered from a rocky stretch midway through the round for a 68 that left him two strokes behind Watson. Sweden’s Peter Hanson was another shot back after a 65. New world No. 1Rory Mcilroy fell 10 shots behind after Friday’s 69. Phil Mickelson shot 71, leaving him 11behind.