Aberg and Soderberg tied for BMW Championship lead
In a chaotic finish to the second round of the BMW PGA Championship at Virginia Water, England, Ludvig Åberg and Rory McIlroy won their own personal battles down the storied par-5 last hole at Wentworth, where — for a while — nine balls were regularly in play as players backed up to complete their rounds in close-todark conditions.
Aberg, the 23-year-old Swede tipped to be the next big thing in golf, rolled in a putt from 4 feet for a 6-under 66 to tie for the lead with compatriot Sebastian Soderberg (64) on 10-under par.
McIlroy then two-putted for birdie from 45 feet to finish off a round of 71 and move onto 1 under, which should see him make the weekend on the number. He will have to wait until Saturday morning to be sure, though.
Tommy Fleetwood (66) was a shot back in a four-way tie for third place that included Adrian Meronk, the Pole who is making a run for the most prestigious title on the European tour. Thomas Detry of Belgium (68) and Masahiro Kawamura of Japan (65) were also 9 under.
ELSEWHERE Michigan’s Howard has heart surgery
Michigan coach Juwan Howard underwent heart surgery Friday but is expected to make a complete recovery.
School officials said Dr. Himanshu Patel successfully removed an aortic aneurysm and repaired Howard's aortic valve. Patel said Howard is expected to fully recover in six to 12 weeks and could return to the program in four to six weeks.
Michigan opens the season Nov. 7 by hosting UNC Asheville. Michigan associate head coach Phil Martelli will serve as the Wolverines' interim head coach during Howard's recovery.
“I feel so grateful and blessed that this surgery was performed at University of Michigan Health,” Howard said in a statement. “My wife, Jenine, and our family appreciate the worldclass care that has been provided to us. Dr. (Kim) Eagle, Dr. Patel, Dr. (Stanley) Chetcuti and all of the staff at the Frankel Cardiovascular Center are so talented and performed like champions throughout this process. I am going to work very hard in my rehabilitation to be stronger than ever by the time our upcoming season is upon us.”
Tennis: Three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray wept Friday after revealing he missed his grandmother's funeral to play in the Davis Cup Finals.
Murray came from behind to beat Leandro Riedi 6-7 (7), 6-4, 6-4 and give Britain a winning start in its 2-1 victory over Switzerland in the group stage of the finals at Manchester, England.
The Scottish player needed more than 3 hours to beat Riedi and was overcome by emotion toward the end of his subsequent on-court interview.
“Today is a tough day for me. It's my gran's funeral today,” Murray said. “I'm sorry to my family that I'm not able to be there but, gran, this one's for you.”
Novak Djokovic sealed Serbia's place in the Final 8 with a 6-3, 6-4 win in Group C over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain, which was eliminated.