Pettersen leads at Women’s Open
Even as she climbed into the lead in the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open on Friday, Suzann Pettersen took some time to admire Michelle Wie’s big move into contention.
Pettersen, the Norwegian star ranked sixth in the world, shot a 4-under-par 68 at Blackwolf Run in Kohler, Wisc., on Friday and moved to 5 under for the tournament. But Wie was even better on the day, carding a 6-under 66 to move to 4 under and put herself in position to break out of a season-long slump.
Wie was tied with Cristie Kerr, the 2007 Open winner, one stroke off the lead.
Pettersen was playing in the group directly behind Wie, giving her a pretty good view of what turned out to be an impressive display of accurate approach shots and made putts.
“She was fist-pumping every putt she looked at,” Pettersen said.
Kerr, who was tied for the first-round lead at 3 under with Lizette Salas and Brittany Lincicome, had a 71.
WOODS MISSES CUT
One week after he won for the third time this season, Tiger Woods gets a rare weekend off.
Woods missed the cut at the Greenbrier Classic by a stroke Friday in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., following an opening 71 with a 69 to finish at even par. He missed a cut for only the ninth time in his PGA Tour career.
Phil Mickelson also failed to advance to weekend play, the first time Woods and Mickelson have missed the cut in the same tournament as professionals. Mickelson shot his second straight 71.
U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson (4-under 66) topped the leaderboard at 9 under when play was suspended because of darkness – the round was delayed because of rain.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
John Cook closed with a 30-foot eagle putt on the par-5 ninth hole at Del Monte for a 5-under 67 and a share of the lead with 62-year-old Tom Kite on Friday at the First Tee Open in Pebble Beach, Calif.
“It was nice way to finish the round,” Cook said. “I made a lot of birdies and took advantage of my chances. If you have a good round here you know you have a chance. You’ve got to manage Pebble Beach and keep damage to a minimum.”
He’s winless this year after sharing the tour lead last season with three.
Kite birdied his final two holes. “I played a really nice round today,” said Kite, who won the last of his 10 Champions Tour victories in the 2008 Boeing Classic.
GERMAN TAKES LEAD AT FRENCH OPEN
Germany’s Marcel Siem shot a 3-under 68 on Friday in wet and windy conditions at Le Golf National in Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, France, to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the French Open.
Siem had five birdies and a double bogey on the Albatross Course. He had a 6-under 136 total.
TRACKING LOCAL GOLFERS on the PGA tour
This week: The Greenbrier Classic, through Sunday, The Old White TPC, White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.
In the field: Tacoma’s Troy Kelly.
Second-round score: 3-under-par 67.
Position: Kelly (4-under 136) is tied for 23rd, five strokes behind leader Webb Simpson (131).
Recap: No Tiger Woods. No Phil Mickelson. But, yes, Kelly will be playing this weekend on the PGA Tour after making the cut. And he is in good shape after a stellar round that included four birdies and an eagle. That eagle came on the par-5 12th hole, where he landed his 3-hybrid in the middle of the green, and sank a 30-foot putt. He finished with three birdies on his final five holes, including ones at No. 7 (15-footer) and No. 8 (31/2-footer).
Tee time today: To be determined after suspended second round (darkness) is completed.
todd.milles@thenewstribune.com
