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Tiger surges into tie atop Shanghai board

golf: Birdie binge pulls Woods even with Watney; Moore, Mickelson one back

McClatchy news services | • Published November 07, 2009

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Tiger Woods realized that no one was pulling away at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai on Friday, so he settled into a good groove with the putter and made sure he caught them.

Woods birdied five of his last 10 holes for another 5-under 67, giving him a share of the 36-hole lead with Nick Watney in the final World Golf Championship event of the year that continues to have a distinct American look.

Seven of the top nine players on the leaderboard are from the United States, and the possibility of another No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown looms with Phil Mickelson making three birdies over the last four holes for a 66 to finish one shot behind.

Woods has been runner-up twice at the HSBC Champions, and he put himself in contention again at Sheshan International. After consecutive holes failing to make birdie with a wedge in his hand for his approach shot, he knocked in a 10-foot birdie on the ninth and was on his way.

“I certainly had some looks and didn’t really capitalize on anything,” Woods said. “Made a putt on 9 and from then on, I hit a lot of good putts and basically played the last 10 holes at 5 under.”

He reached the par-5 18th in two for one last birdie to catch Watney (70) at 10-under 134.

They were one shot clear of Mickelson, Ryan Moore (69) and Alvaro Quiros of Spain, who chose to lay up on the 18th instead of hitting 4-iron to the green because the putting surfaces were firm and quick. He had to settle for a par and a 66.

Another shot behind was Anthony Kim, who made eagle on the 18th for a 69, while Pat Perez made a bogey on his final hole for a 69 that put him at 7-under 137.

Elsewhere

American Brittany Lang shot a 6-under 66 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead over Japan’s Nobuko Kizawa and South Korea’s Hee Young Park after the first round of the Mizuno Classic in Shima, Japan. Lang, the long-hitting former Duke star, is winless in four seasons on the LPGA Tour. … Former UCLA star Tiffany Joh won the Duramed Futures Tour’s qualifying tournament, closing with a 1-over 73 in windy conditions for a one-stroke victory over Canadian Danielle Mills in Winterhaven, Fla.