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Low scoring continues in Las Vegas

Scott Verplank, Tim Herron and Scott McCarron shot 62s at the Las Vegas Invitational on Thursday, but there weren't many fans around to see some impressive golf.

Unlike the scenes at Augusta in April, the U.S. Open in June and most of the other Tour stops, this is a tough draw -- for players and fans.

``There were at least two or three people out there watching me,'' said Verplank, whose round at the par-72 TPC at Summerlin put him in a tie for the second-round lead with Steve Flesch at 17-under 126.

Flesch followed his first-round 62 with a 64 Thursday at the par-71 TPC at The Canyons. He had two bogeys, but kept a share of the lead with a 30 on the back nine.

``I made a lot of putts on the back side and capitalized on my chances,'' Flesch said.

Charles Howell III had a 65 and was at 128.

Herron, Craig Barlow (67) and Steve Lowery (64) were at 129 heading into Friday's third round of the 90-hole event.

Herron finished his round with an eagle on the par-5 ninth hole. He hit a 360-yard drive, then a 7-iron to 5 feet.

McCarron is at 12-under 131 after starting the day eight shots out of the lead. He got into contention with an eagle and eight birdies, a round that would normally draw a crowd.

Not here.

Tiger Woods isn't here. Neither are most of the other big names in the game -- Vijay Singh, Davis Love III, Mike Weir, Ernie Els.

The reasons vary, but many of the pros skip Las Vegas to get ready for other events in the homestretch of the Tour season. Woods will tee it up next at the Funai Classic in Florida. Others are getting ready for the $6 million Tour Championship the first week in November.

Also, the format for the Las Vegas tournament isn't the norm.

The tournament runs five days. The first three days are a pro-am format -- three amateurs joining a pro -- and the tournament's first 54 holes are played on three courses.

Those inside the ropes Thursday sometimes outnumbered those outside.

``You're making birdies and the only ones clapping are your pro-am partners,'' McCarron said.

Still, there's much at stake in the $4 million tournament.

Verplank, who had five top 10 finishes early in the season, is 33rd on the money list, three spots from qualifying for the Tour Championship.

``I haven't played well since the U.S. Open,'' Verplank said. ``I've been beating myself up enough and this week I decided to just go out and play.''

Herron has made more than $2 million this season but is still chasing his first win in 2003. He has finished second twice, including a tie with Singh and Stuart Appleby last week at the American Express Championship won by Woods.

``I brought some confidence in from last week,'' Herron said.

Herron caught a break when his second shot into the par-5 third hole hit the rocks in a hazard next to green and ended up over the green.

``I figured it was in the hazard,'' Herron said. ``I get up and down off a downhill lie and that kept my round going. I made birdie where it looked like I was going to make 5 or 6.''

Phil Mickelson, without a top 10 finish since The Masters, shot a 7-under 64 at the TPC at The Canyons and was 12-under.

Three-time Las Vegas champion Jim Furyk was another shot back at 11-under after a second-round 67.

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