Tiger Woods made it safely to the weekend at the Greenbrier Classic, where Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas fired a five-under 65 to join Scott Langley at the top of the leaderboard on Friday.
Vegas had five birdies with no bogeys for a nine-under halfway total of 131. Langley, the overnight leader after a first-round 62, carded a one-under 69 to maintain a share of the lead.
They were being chased by a tightly bunched field, with a group of seven players just one stroke back.
Photo: AFP
Canadian David Hearn and American Bryce Molder carded 64s to join the group on 132, England’s Greg Owen, and Chad Collins and Kevin Chappel of the US posted second-round 67s and New Zealand’s Danny Lee and Jonathan Byrd of the US both signed for 69s to complete the group at eight-under.
Six more players were tied on 133 and 10 more were on 134.
Former world No. 1 Woods, coming off a dismal US Open showing at Chambers Bay, avoided missing back-to-back cuts for the first time in his professional career, firing a roller-coaster one-under 69 to head a group on 135 that also included two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson (68).
Woods, who delivered a solid 66 in the first round, made his fourth birdie of the day at the final hole, rolling in a six-footer to get back to under-par for the day.
However, he also had three bogeys — all on the back nine.
After a birdie at the second, Woods reeled off eight straight pars before a bogey at the 11th. That was followed by a birdie at 12, a bogey at 13 and a birdie at 14.
After a bogey at 16, Woods was in the water off the tee at 17, but saved par after almost holing a wedge from 98 yards out.
Woods’ 36-hole total of 135 is his best on the PGA Tour since he opened with a 135 at the 2013 Deutsche Bank Championship. He was tied for 26th — four shots off the lead.
On a day marked by morning rain that led to a brief delay, Vegas hit all 18 greens in regulation and birdied to of his final three holes to put himself in contention for his first win since 2011.
“I feel like I’m playing great,” Vegas said. “I just haven’t been able to put it all together, but I’m staying patient and working really hard to make it happen, and it’s coming together.”
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