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Golf

Woods ruthless in 7-and-6 win

CARLSBAD, Calif. -- David Toms spent more time in the hospital with food poisoning than Tiger Woods spent on the golf course Friday.

Both advanced to the quarterfinals of the Match Play Championship, one of them feeling much better about his chances than the other.

Woods made short work of Stephen Leaney, winning six of the first seven holes in a ruthless display that required only about two hours and ended on the 12th hole with a 7-and-6 decision.

"I'm playing some pretty solid golf," Woods said in an understatement.

Toms turned in the gutsiest performance at La Costa. Not only did he win the last two holes for a 1-up victory over Alex Cejka, there was serious doubt he could even walk to the first tee after spending four hours in the hospital overnight with food poisoning.

He ate two bananas and a piece of toast, enough to keep his legs from shaking. Adrenaline took over from there, and he holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to win.

"I don't think I had anything left in me to go extra holes," Toms said. "I wanted to make that putt, and I'm glad I did."

Jay Haas, 49, didn't have to make his putt to win on the 20th hole. He hit a 4-iron from 219 yards that stopped 2 inches from the hole, beating Nick Price in a match between two players with a combined 51 years on tour.

In other matches, Jerry Kelly ousted Phil Mickelson 3 and 2, Darren Clarke eliminated Jim Furyk 2-up, Scott Hoch defeated Toshi Izawa 4 and 3, Adam Scott beat defending champion Kevin Sutherland 2 and 1, and Peter Lonard edged Robert Allenby 1-up.

Woods (No. 1) and Toms (No. 6) are the only top 10-seeded players remaining heading into the quarterfinals this morning. The semifinals will be in the afternoon.

Woods is clearly the most rested, having played only 44 holes over his first three rounds. He was 5 under through 12 holes and twice holed shots from off the green, including a bunker shot for eagle that caused Leaney to stare at him in disbelief.

Next up for Woods is Hoch, a fellow member at Isleworth Country Club outside Orlando who is in the quarterfinals for the second time in four years.

"I'm going to have my work cut out for me," Hoch said. "But, no, I'm not going to consider myself 3-down before I tee off. What's the worst that can happen? I lose. I've gotten farther than I thought I would."

CHRYSLER CLASSIC: Frank Lickliter II, in the midst of a major swing makeover, shot 9-under 63 to take a three-shot lead halfway through the Tucson tournament.

Lickliter, who started Friday's second round three strokes out of the lead, was at 14-under 130. "I'm driving extremely well right now," he said. "It's allowed me to hit it at the pin, and I'm making the putts."

Brian Gay, tied with Lickliter when the day began, shot 6-under 66 and was alone in second at 133. First-round leader Dicky Pride struggled to 72 and was in a group of 10 at 137.

WOMEN'S AUSTRALIAN OPEN: Laura Davies led after two rounds in Sydney, but defending champion Karrie Webb was lurking three strokes back. Davies, coming off a victory last week, birdied the final two holes on the Terry Hills course for 4-under 68. She's at 11-under 133.

Rookie Rebecca Coakley (67) was a stroke behind. Webb (67) was at 136 with young stars Beth Bauer (66) of Odessa and Lorena Ochoa (69).

JACOB'S CREEK OPEN: American Joe Ogilvie and Australia's Marcus Fraser shot 1-under 70s to share the second-round lead in the Nationwide Tour's opening event in Adelaide, Australia. They had 6-under 136 totals on the windswept Kooyonga course.

DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC: Ernie Els has decided to defend his title next week in the United Arab Emirates, a big boost for a tournament that has lost top players concerned over a possible war in Iraq.

Still uncertain is Woods. "Don't know," he said at the Match Play Championship.

Earlier Friday, Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo and former Ryder Cup captain Mark James decided not to play in the European tour event. Montgomerie and Faldo instead will play at Doral on the PGA Tour.

Under European PGA Tour rules, players have until early Saturday to withdraw. Late withdrawals could face fines. Woods is not a European tour member, but would receive an appearance fee worth more than $2-million to play.

MASTERS: The leader of a Ku Klux Klan splinter group plans to demonstrate in support of Augusta National Golf Club's all-male membership during the tournament.

"This equal rights stuff has gotten out of hand," Joseph J. Harper, imperial wizard of the American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, said in Savannah, Ga. "We're not concerned with whether they want us there or not. We're concerned with their right to choose who they want to choose" as members.

Harper wrote the Richmond County Sheriff requesting a permit to protest.

Augusta National issued a statement disavowing any group that seeks to use the tournament as a political soapbox.

Martha Burk, chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations and lead advocate in pressing Augusta National to admit female members, said the club and the Klan deserve one another.

"It is not a surprise that the KKK supports Augusta National Golf Club, since the club embraces and flaunts discrimination," Burk said.

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