Chrysler Championship

Singh can rest for the rest of weekend

By RODNEY PAGE
Published October 29, 2005

PALM HARBOR - Defending champion Vijay Singh narrowly missed his birdie putt on the par-4 ninth hole at Innisbrook's Copperhead Course on Friday, his 18th hole, and knew it was likely his last chance to stick around for the weekend. Singh signed his card, blew past most autograph seekers and ducked into the safety of the locker room.

For the second straight week, Singh has his weekend free. His 3-over par total of 145 missed the cut by one. He shot par 71 Friday.

Singh also missed the cut at the Funai Classic in Kissimmee last weekend. This is the first time Singh has missed the cut two straight weeks since 2001.

Singh wasn't the only recognizable player who missed the cut. John Daly, David Toms, Mike Weir, Jason Gore, Ben Curtis, Steve Elkington, Mark O'Meara, Rich Beem, Todd Hamilton, Jeff Sluman, Paul Azinger, Mark Calcavecchia and Lee Janzen are also gone.

LOOKING GOOD: Charles Howell needed a good finish this week in order to qualify for next week's Tour Championship, which is reserved for the top 30 on the money list after the Chrysler Championship. Howell is 30th on the list, and his solid 4-under 138 moves him closer to the Tour Championship.

Jason Bohn, who is 31st on the money list, fired a 3-under 68 Friday and made the cut by one. Howell has earned $1,880,379. Bohn has $1,877,809. Peter Lonard, who is 32nd on the list with $1,874,060, also made the cut.

Howell entered last year's Chrysler Championship 33rd on the list and didn't make the Tour Championship. He said he likes his position this season but isn't going think about next week just yet.

"I know that 30th is a whole lot better place to be than 33rd," Howell said. "It's always amazed me how much of a money gap there is between those spots. It's a lot more than just, say, three places for two places or whatever.

"I've been around enough or been in this postion enough to know that you still have to play well. I can't start thinking about getting into (the Tour Championship). I still have to play well."

LOCALS LEAVE: It was not a good tournament for some local players. Dade City's Tim Petrovic missed the cut after another 74 and a two-round total of 6-over 148. Jim Garrison, a club pro qualifier from Temple Terrace, shot 81 Friday and missed the cut. Bradenton's Paul Azinger shot 76 and also missed.

Two area players who did survive were Clearwater's John Huston (71-68-139) and Tampa's Woody Austin (71-71-142).

CHIP SHOTS: A reminder that tee times for today have changed slightly. The first threesomes will tee off at approximately 10:30 a.m. on No.1 and No.10. The leaders will tee off around 1 p.m. ... K.J. Choi withdrew after the fourth hole with a wrist injury. Choi shot 79 on Thursday. ... Charles Warren, who was in the hunt with 69 on Thursday, shot 74 Friday, a round that included five bogeys on the back nine.

[Last modified October 29, 2005, 01:45:21]