Heineken Classic
The Vines, Perth
Australia
29th January - 1st February 1998

Par 72 Prize Money £555,500

Second Round Report

Second Round Scores
First Round Report
First Round Scores

Woosnam shares lead after wonder shot

By Mark Garrod, PA Sport Golf Correspondent

Perth, Australia, 30th January 1998 - Ian Woosnam conjured up a piece of magic to regain a share of top spot in the Heineken Classic in Perth today.

Playing partner Bernhard Langer, three behind Woosnam at the start of the second round, raced into a four-stroke lead by collecting seven birdies in the space of 12 holes.

But then Woosnam cut the gap to two and on the 525-yard ninth, their closing hole of the day, he pitched into the hole from 60 yards for an eagle three.

Langer was at the back of the green in two, but took three more to get down and so they both reached halfway on the nine under par total of 135, Woosnam shooting 69 and Langer a 66.

The pair are three clear of Scotland's Andrew Coltart, Dane Thomas Bjorn and Australian Craig Parry.

Jose Maria Olazabal, second behind Woosnam overnight, and US Open champion Ernie Els could not make the progress they were hoping for when confronted by the "Freemantle Doctor" wind after lunch.

Olazabal shot 72 to remain five under, Els had a 71 and is six back at three under.

Woosnam, winner of the event two years ago, said: "I'd made only one decent putt all day, so that was a great way to finish.

"Bernhard was holing a lot of good ones, which made it even more frustrating, but you have days like that and you just have to accept it in this game."

Langer, playing his first tournament with new clubs, began his charge with a curling 50-foot putt at the 12th and followed that by sinking efforts from 12, eight and 15 feet on the next three greens.

He nearly made it five in a row, lipping out from 45 feet at the short 16th, but another birdie on the par five 18th meant he was out in 31 and something really special looked on the cards when he picked up further shots on the fourth and fifth.

Woosnam responded, however, by making a 12-footer at the next, Langer three-putted the 195-yard eighth and then came the eagle shot, Woosnam's ball spinning back into the cup after landing eight feet past it.

"That was a big one for Woosie," admitted the German, "but I'm very happy with the way I'm hitting the ball. There's not much difference in distance and trajectory from my old clubs, but I'm spinning the ball a touch more."

As usual, Langer's course management at The Vines was immaculate. "I spend a lot of time on that and I often wonder how some of my colleagues play practice rounds.

"They seem to just wander along and chat to each other, never even looking at the course. I'm out there making notes and creating a mental picture of the holes.

"The Tuesday practice round is a very important part of the week for me and it can make a huge difference."

Langer, second to Colin Montgomerie on last year's European Order of Merit after winning four times, was 40 in August, but he says: "I still have great desire and the same hunger. I want to be as good as Bernhard Langer can be."

His schedule has been revised, though, because he has made a commitment to his family that he will not be away from them for more than two weeks at a time.

"That's the pain barrier for us. I spent three weeks away twice last year and had a miserable time. We're not going to do that any more unless it is absolutely necessary."

Coltart has no such concerns about time away at the moment and his travels are proving very profitable.

Winner of the Australian PGA title in November and joint fourth in last week's Johnnie Walker Classic in Phuket, the 27-year-old from Thornhill added a 70 to his opening 68 today.

"It's nice to wake up and know what the weather's going to be before you pull open the curtains," said Coltart, a little frustrated at not being closer to the lead after three-putting the 12th, his third, and taking six at the long third, where he flew the green with his pitch.

Ireland's Paul McGinley, joint runner-up behind Woosnam in 1996, kept well in touch at five under, grabbing birdies at his last two holes for a 70.

But his World Cup-winning partner Padraig Harrington, the course record holder with a 63 in last year's second round, survived the cut with nothing to spare on one over.

Harrington's hopes looked slim when he was involved in a long search for his ball four holes from home. But it was found with 10 seconds of the permitted five minutes left.

Gary Player, the 62-year-old three-time Open champion, did miss out. Rounds of 75 and 77 left him on eight over par.