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Love opens three shot lead

Davis Love III shook off an opening bogey to shoot a five-under 67 for a three-shot lead after two rounds of the Western Open at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club. His two-day total of 11-under-par 133 was just one shot off the 36-hole record established by Sam Snead in 1949.

Brandel Chamblee, who captured his lone PGA Tour victory at the 1998 Greater Vancouver Open, posted a 67 Friday for sole possession of second place at minus-eight.

After opening with an over-par round for his third straight start, 1997 and '99 Western Open winner Tiger Woods clawed back to within eight shots of the lead with a second-round 68.

"I played terrible yesterday, but today I hit the ball pretty good," said Woods, who survived his 72nd consecutive cut to tie Dow Finsterwald for the fourth longest run in PGA Tour history. "If I can just get a few more putts to fall and get some positive momentum going, I might have a good weekend."

Phil Mickelson, ranked No. 2 in the world behind Woods, followed up his opening 66 with a two-over 74 that was comprised of two birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey after finding the water at the 18th.

"Today just wasn't a good day for me," said Mickelson, who won his second title of the season last week in Hartford. "I'll see if I can come back tomorrow with a low round."

Mickelson fell to four-under-par 140.

Love squandered a terrific drive at the first hole when his wedge shot bounced over the green. He missed his par putt after chipping to five feet, but offset the early bogey with a 15-foot birdie putt at the par-three second.

Refusing to be outdone when playing partner Loren Roberts chipped in for a three at the par-five fifth, Love rolled in a 35-footer for an eagle of his own. He tacked on a two-foot birdie after a nine-iron to the eighth and made the turn at nine-under for the tournament.

Although Love couldn't take advantage of the par-fives on the back nine, he went from bunker to bunker at the par-four 13th before holing a 40-foot blast for birdie. A big breaking birdie putt from 25 feet at the last allowed Love to step out to a comfortable lead heading into the weekend.

"I feel pretty good," said Love, who is just getting back in shape after missing two months this season with a back injury. "This is not an overly difficult course to walk but it is not the easiest one either. That part of it I feel pretty good about."

Woods, still in the midst of a playing hangover after falling out of contention early at last month's U.S. Open, showed his frustration by breaking a club after turning in a 73 on Thursday.

"I regret doing it. But it's just, sometimes you get a little hot at yourself when you know you're not performing the way you know you can."

Woods had no reason to alter any of his clubs after birdieing three of his first six holes Friday. He dropped a shot with a bogey at the fourth, but came back to birdie two par-fives.

Woods had a chance at an eagle at his final hole -- the par-five ninth -- but his speeding putt from 40 feet hopped when it hit the hole and he tapped in for his closing birdie. He stands in 26th at three-under par.

Greater Greensboro Classic champ Scott Hoch carded a 68 to finish tied at seven-under 137 with Frank Nobilo, who birdied the final hole late in the day for a three-under 69.

Monday qualifier Mark Wilson shot 67 for a share of fifth place at 138 with Brad Faxon, Bob Estes, Joe Ogilvie and Scott Verplank.

Roberts, Vijay Singh and first-round leader Mark Wiebe are among those at minus-five.

Robert Allenby, the winner of last year's Western Open after a surviving a playoff with Nick Price, shot 74-73 over the last two days to miss the cut, which fell at one-under-par 143.

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