Golf

Tiger has his way on this day

Woods blazes into the lead, shooting a record-tying 63.

By JOHN ROMANO
Published August 11, 2007

TULSA, Okla. - Tiger Woods took on history in the PGA Championship on Friday. Turns out, it was the only challenger capable of stopping him.

Woods barely missed creating a new PGA standard for a low round in a major when his birdie putt on No. 18 rolled around the cup and out. As the ball headed toward the hole, Woods began to raise his putter in triumph then let it drop from his hands as the shot lipped out.

"Evidently," he said, "it didn't want to go in."

Woods settled for 63, establishing a personal best for a major and tying 20 others for the lowest round in a major. Vijay Singh and Greg Norman have done it twice.

Woods also took a two-shot lead in a tournament that is beginning to look more like a coronation than a competition for the world's No. 1 player. He came into the season's final major on a roll, having won the Bridgestone Invitational by eight strokes Sunday.

"You can't think or believe that it's over. I want to believe that it's not," Ernie Els said after 2-under 68 got him within striking distance. "We've all got to play the golf course. We all know he's No. 1 and he's on form, that's kind of dangerous."

Woods has led after 36 holes in seven previous majors, and has gone on to win every time. The 36-hole leader has also won the six previous majors held at Southern Hills Country Club.

"It certainly does give you confidence, there's no doubt," Woods said. "I know what to do, it's just a matter of going out there and doing it. We've got a long way to go."

Before he began his charge, the day seemed to belong to Scott Verplank. An Oklahoma State product who lives 90 minutes away in Edmond, Verplank shot 66 and claimed the lead briefly at 4 under.

Only four players have more career earnings than Verplank, 43, without winning a major.

"Maybe I'm a late bloomer," Verplank said. "I was a very early bloomer, I was probably a top-10 player in the world when I was 21 and won the Western Amateur. I've had a lot of landscape in between. Maybe I'll be a late bloomer here."

Els and John Daly are tied for ninth at par 140. Phil Mickelson shot 69 to move into a tie for 19th, eight off the pace.

"I feel like I'm playing a lot better than I'm scoring," Mickelson said. "That's what's been frustrating."

First-round leader Graeme Storm imploded early with two bogeys in his first three holes. He finished with 76 and dropped to 15th.

Woods, meanwhile, began the day tied for 23rd and made three birdies in his first five holes. He had bogey on No. 7, but recovered with five more birdies between holes Nos. 9 and 15. He had three chances to get to 8 under for the day, but finished the round with all pars.

"This is pretty high, there's no doubt," Woods said, when asked to rate this with his best rounds. "I hit the ball really well and there was a nice stretch there at 9, 10, 11 where I hit some really good shots.

"All day I was in control of my shots."

Woods comes in to the PGA Championship needing a victory to avoid the fourth major-less season of his career since turning pro in 1996.

He finished second in the Masters and U.S. Open this season, but did not appear to be hitting the ball as well as he has this week. As he approached the 18th green Friday, both Woods and the crowd sensed the possibility of a historic moment.

His approach shot left him about 15 feet from the hole, and the gallery rose in anticipation as his ball approached the hole. When it rimmed out, even Woods spun around in anger.

"I knew if I made that putt on the last hole it would have been a nice little record to have," Woods said. "A 62 1/2 is all right."

Birdie

Bogey

Fast Facts:

Friday's leaders

Tiger Woods 71-63 -6

Scott Verplank 70-66 -4

Geoff Ogilvy 69-68 -3

Stephen Ames 68-69 -3

Woody Austin 68-70 -2

Notables

John Daly 67-73 E

Woody Austin 68-70 E

Phil Mickelson 73-69 +2

Today on TV

11 a.m., TNT; 2 p.m., Ch. 10 Weather: Sunny, high 102.

. fast facts

No sure thing

Tiger Woods' 63 was the 23rd in the majors, but only four others have gone on to win - Johnny Miller in the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont, Jack Nicklaus in the 1980 U.S. Open at Baltusrol, Greg Norman in the 1986 British Open at Turnberry and Raymond Floyd in the 1982 PGA Championship at Southern Hills. Woods opened with 1-over 71. The only one of his 12 major titles that he won after shooting over par in the first round was the 2005 Masters, when he opened with 2-over 74.

[Last modified August 11, 2007, 01:27:02]