Furyk keeps the momentum
Jim Furyk enjoyed another good day at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Friday to take a two-shot lead into the weekend.
Jim Furyk enjoyed another good day at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational on Friday to take a two-shot lead into the weekend.
After opening up with an impressive 63 on Thursday, the American followed it up with a four-under 66 to stay just ahead of Rafael Cabrera Bello.
Furyk started the day well as he made birdies on two of the opening six holes, but then dropped a shot at the eighth. He saved par from the bunker four times on the back nine and also added three further birdies.
“Just probably a little easier to keep the momentum going that way than having an early time on Thursday, having a good round and having to sit on it until Friday afternoon,” he said.
“I thought it was key to get off to a nice start and see some putts go in. Made a good birdie putt at two, and saw some birdies go in on the front nine, good putt at nine, and off to the races.”
Spaniard Cabrera Bello is at nine-under after two birdies in the opening three holes and two more at 10 and 11 helped him to card a 65, while Louis Oosthuizen is a further shot adrift after collecting four birdies in his final eight holes in a round of 65.
World number Luke Donald made a solid start to his second round, but he could only manage a 69 after failing to turn pars into birdies. The Englishman is tied fifth with David Toms at five-under.
Lee Slattery, who was second behind Fury after the first round, drifted to seven shots behind the leader after he followed up his 66 with a one-over 71 while 2011 US Open champion Rory McIlroy was tied 12th after a round of 67.
Meanwhile Tiger Woods’s troubles continued on Friday after a two-over par left him 13 shots off Furyk’s pace. The former world number one, a seven-time winner at Firestone, didn’t have the best of days with his putter.
“I get in these little spells where it’s hot or cold,” Woods said. “Generally, I was a decent putter over the years, but lately it’s been very streaky. I’m making everything or I make nothing.”
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