Tiger Woods faced several obstacles on Friday, but his biggest one could have been Ernie Els.
On a day when Woods' girlfriend, Elin Nordegren, took ill at the golf course, and rain delayed play for almost five hours, Els sailed along, making birdies and soaring up the leader board. When second-round play at the Bay Hill Invitational was finally suspended because of darkness, several things had been cleared up.
Nordegren, who had become dehydrated, was feeling better. Woods, who returned to Bay Hill Club & Lodge after accompanying Nordegren to a hospital, was still in contention. And a weekend showdown between Woods and Els, the Nos. 1 and 2 players in the world, was still a possibility.
With 61 players still on the course when play was halted, Els was the clubhouse leader at five-under-par 139 (74-69). Aaron Baddeley was the leader on the course at six under through 21 holes, and Jonathan Kaye (27 holes) and Jeff Maggert (27 holes) were at five under.
After 25 holes, Woods was one of eight players at four under, including three who had completed their second rounds -- Niclas Fasth, Peter Lonard and Steve Lowery, all at 140.
Those who did not complete the second round were to finish it yesterday morning. The 36-hole cut will follow and then third-round play was to begin yesterday afternoon.
While the leader board was hard to sort out, one thing was clear: Els' game was sharp, which made the possibility of a duel against Woods very real.
Woods, who has won Bay Hill the past three years, is trying to become the first player since Gene Sarazen in 1930 to win a PGA Tour event four consecutive times.
"It will be great for the fans," said Els, when asked if he would welcome a back-nine clash with Woods. "If I get to the level I want to play at, I'm going to play a lot with Tiger, because he's on that level. That's been my goal. If that means I'm going to play a lot more with Tiger, it will be great."
Woods was just happy to be playing, after being concerned about Nordegren, a 23-year-old model from Sweden. She collapsed early this afternoon waiting for Woods' round to begin. After being helped inside the clubhouse, Nordegren emerged about 20 minutes later on a stretcher. She was taken to nearby Sand Lake Hospital in an ambulance, with Woods riding in the front seat.
Because the rain delay lasted nearly five hours, Woods had ample time to spend at the hospital. He returned to the course at about 3:30pm, well before his 4:50pm tee time, looking relaxed and ready to play.
"She's doing well, but she's been sick with food poisoning, and she got dehydrated," Woods said. "She hasn't been able to keep anything down.
She hasn't been feeling good. They were going to give her some fluids and she was going to be released."
Woods did not expect Nordegren to be kept at the hospital for more than a few hours, and he hardly looked distracted on the course, shooting two under par through seven holes.
Els looked tremendous, much like the player who has already won four times worldwide this year. Though Els was disappointed with his opening-round 74, he knew he was swinging the club well, and he was confident he could improve. Did he ever. Teeing off on No. 10, Els birdied his first four holes, and his charge was under way.
"You don't plan to make four birdies in a row from the first hole, but I hit shots in the right place and made some good putts," said Els, who finished 13 holes before the rain interrupted his round.
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