Golf: Hurting Woods in the hunt

Woods defied a sore back to shoot a two-under 69 to join a group sharing seventh on five-under 137.

NEW YORK: Sergio Garcia and Nick Watney shared the second-round lead as a hurting Tiger Woods kept himself in the hunt at The Barclays, the first stop on the US PGA Tour's playoffs. Garcia, riding the momentum of his win at the Wyndham today, capped his three-under par 68 at Bethpage Black with a par-saving nine-foot putt at his final hole, the par-four ninth, for an eight under total of 134. Watney staggered home with bogeys at two of his last three holes. That included a missed seven-footer to save par at 18, but an early eagle and four birdies saw him walk off with a 69 for 134. Woods, meanwhile, defied a sore back to shoot a two-under 69 to join a group sharing seventh on five-under 137.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 26^th, 2012.