The Players Championship is often referred to as the fifth major, but Jack's tournament, the Memorial, makes a strong case for the title, even if it's a media creation. Heading to the weekend, only 24 players are under par, and the 4-over cut line was four strokes tougher than The Players last month. Jonathan Byrd is one of just two players to fire back-to-back rounds in the 60s, and he's currently 7-under, tied for first place. (Mike Weir, T3, is the other.)
He's joined atop the leaderboard by Jim Furyk, the 2003 U.S. Open winner and six-time Ryder Cup member. And while Byrd's first 36 holes were relatively stress-free -- he signed for a 69-68 -- Furyk's were less so, if only because of the two other guys in his group.
Friday's 18th hole was a microcosm of just how tough Muirfield Village can play. Furyk's 3-wood found the center of the fairway on the 444-yard par 4, a dogleg right, with an uphill second hot to an angled, sloping green. Vijay Sigh, tried to shape his drive and after two bad hops his ball ended up in some of the thickest rough on the course. Geoff Ogilvy followed with his driver, finding the bunkers to the right of the fairway. As the players made their way to their balls, Furyk was 6-under, and Singh and Ogilvy were just inside the cut line.
Furyk, 169 yards to the hole, hit a smooth 6-iron to seven feet. Ogilvy, from 125 yards, cleared the lip of the bunker, but his ball carried the green before settling in the thick rough behind -- and well above -- it. Singh had only 119 to the hole, but he caught a flyer, which turned out to be an understatement when his ball hit the cart path behind the green before coming to rest in the shrubbery fronting the club house some 30 yards from the pin.
Ogilvy left his third shot short of the putting surface while Singh (after taking a drop) put his ball in the front bunker. Yeah, it was a lot like a typical Saturday at the local muni. Ogilvy would eventually sign for a five and Singh a six -- and the subsequent trunk-slamming for both. Through it all, Furyk was able to drain his putt for birdie. As far as professional golf goes, it was a wild scene.
Oh, right: Tiger Woods. He entered Round 2 five shots off the lead after an opening round 69. And then needed 74 strokes to find his way back to the clubhouse on Friday. On the upside: Woods drove the ball well for the second consecutive day, but short-sided himself on too many holes. More good news: Despite struggling with his shots into the green, Tiger is just six shots behind Byrd and Furyk. CBS thanks you, Mr. Woods.
