PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — David Toms quit trying to be perfect on a TPC Sawgrass course that appears to demand it. It led to nearly perfect play over two days at The Players Championship and a one-shot lead over Nick Watney going into the weekend.
Toms went 25 holes before making a bogey Friday and countered with enough good shots for a 4-under-par 68, surprising only because he has missed the cut more than half of the times he has played in his nearly two decades at this event.
Watney did his best to catch him. He started the back nine with back-to-back birdies, then gave himself a chance on every hole. Watney missed four birdie putts inside 12 feet over his last seven holes, settling for a 71 after opening with a 64. His emotions showed what this place can do for you.
“I’m not exactly happy,” Watney said, before ending his remarks with, “I’m excited where I am.”
Toms was at 10-under 134, leading a quality list of contenders at the biggest event of golf’s strongest tour.
U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell, who had missed three of his last four cuts on the PGA Tour, finally got back on track with a 69 that left him two shots out of the lead, along with Steve Stricker, who made five birdies on the back nine for a 67.
Former U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover, a winner last week at Quail Hollow, traded birdies with bogeys for a 71 and also was at 8-under 136.
Looming particularly large was Luke Donald, who can go to No. 1 in the world with a victory. He has only been out of the top 10 once since last September. Perhaps even more impressive this week is that Donald became the first player since 2004 to make it around Sawgrass without a bogey for the opening 36 holes.
“I think it’s an accomplishment anywhere,” Donald said. “This is a tough course. There is a lot of danger lurking. It is pretty easy to slip up around this course. So it’s pretty satisfying to go without making a bogey 36 holes.”
Four major champions are among the top 10 — one is Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III, a two-time winner of The Players who was three back going into the weekend. All but Toms is among the top six who have won tournaments in the last year.
Wood takes lead in Spain
SON SERVERA, Spain — Chris Wood shot a 5-under 65 to lead the Iberdrola Open by three shots over Matthew Nixon (70—135) and Darren Clarke (70) after the second round.
