PODS: News and notes
By Dave Scheiber, Times Staff Writer
Published March 8, 2008
Looking good, Lee
It has been a long road for Lee Janzen since 1998, when he won the U.S. Open with a furious final-round comeback - erasing a five-stroke deficit to beat Payne Stewart by one. The feat - the most impressive U.S. Open comeback since Johnny Miller's six-stroke rally 25 years earlier - gave the graduate of Lakeland's Florida Southern College his second U.S. Open title in six years.
Janzen hasn't won since, but Friday he found reason for hope. Despite following his opening 65 with 3-over-par 74 in gusty winds, he was at 3 under.
Janzen, 44, has played at Innisbrook since the tournament became an official PGA Tour event in 2000, with his best finish a sixth-place tie that year. Last year he missed the cut - the fourth of five straight cuts he failed to make in 2007 (among 16 of 24 missed cuts for the season). This week, he's competing with a sponsor's exemption.
"If I play well Saturday I should have a great chance on Sunday," he said.
Could it be the start of a comeback?
"I've shown signs and I've worked hard enough," he said. "My physical game is probably in pretty good shape. I just have to start believing I can do it again."
Local motion
Dade City's Tim Petrovic braved the winds with good results, shooting 68 to keep himself in the running at 2-under 140. "It's supposed to be windy again (today), so something around 6 or 7 under could win it," he said. "The guy who can control his golf ball - like Mark (Calcavecchia) - that's what it's going to take."
Area projections
Here's a look at how others with area ties fared before lightning and heavy rains halted play at 4:38 p.m.
John Huston of Palm Harbor was plus-5 Friday and at 8-over 150. Projection: missed cut.
Paul Azinger of Bradenton was plus-1through six holes and 9 over total. Projection: missed cut.
Ryuji Imada of Tampa was 2 under through 10 holes and 1 under overall. Projection: in contention.
Michael Bradley of Valrico was plus 4for 9-over 151. Projection: missed cut.
Patrick Olive of Tarpon Springs was 3 over through four holes and plus-16 total. Projection: missed cut.
The forecast
Mostly cloudy today followed by clearing skies, with temperatures falling from the mid 60s to the upper 50s after noon. Winds could reach 20-30 mph with higher gusts.
Divots
Davis Love, above, was 3 under for his first three holes but finished at 72-147 and was expected to miss his second cut since returning from ankle surgery Feb. 7 at Pebble Beach. ... David Toms’81 might cost him a spot in the World Golf Championship in two weeks at Doral.
Times staff writer Dave Scheiber and Times wires