Americans
Tim Herron and Chris Perry shared the midway lead as Colin Montgomerie's grip
on the European number one spot slackened at the Valderrama World Golf Championship
on Friday.
Lee Westwood,
one of three players who can overhaul fellow Briton Montgomerie as Europe's top
player, homed in on his target with a four-under-par 67 that left him in a group
on two-under, three off the pace.
The $1 million winner's prize would give Westwood the European order of merit
title unless Montgomerie finishes second.
The Scot, seeking a seventh year as Europe's best player, was on level par after
a one-over 72, five behind the pacesetters after missing out on a day of good
scoring in benign conditions.
Herron and Perry took full advantage with second rounds of 66 and 67 respectively
to finish a shot clear of overnight leader Vijay Singh of Fiji and former British
Open champion Justin Leonard.
Singh could only manage a 71 with five birdies and five bogeys. Leonard compiled
a bogey-free 67.
Two more
Americans, Fred Funk and Scott Hoch, shot 68 and 70 respectively, to share fifth
spot with European Ryder Cup captain Mark James, who carded a 70.
A group of seven on two-under included Westwood and world number one Tiger Woods,
who has already clinched the U.S.money title for the year, and fellow-American
Stewart Cink, whose 65 was the best round to date.
Herron, winner of the Bay Hill Invitational in March, bogeyed the second hole
but dropped no more shots and had six birdies.
Perry, without a win to show for a consistent year on the U.S.Tour that has earned
him $2 million for seventh spot on the money list, highlighted his round with
an eagle three at the troublesome 17.
"I
know if I play my game I'm going to have a chance this week. I've always had a
pretty good short game so I'm pretty comfortable on this golf course," he said.
Westwood birdied three of
the first five holes, dropped a shot after a poor drive at the ninth and made
birdies at the 10th and 17th.
He felt he still has problems with his game. "Yesterday, I scratched and scraped
my way around to a 73. Today, my timing was a little bit better.
"It's looking like a tight finish. Anything
can happen out there."
Montgomerie
bogeyed three holes on the back nine in his 72.
"I'm
hitting the ball well, I just didn't score. Today was very easy. There was no
wind and the pins were easier," he said.
"I'm
only five behind but I should be two or three shots nearer."
Woods' round included a double-bogey five at the 225-yard 15th. He mis-hit into
a gully, hit a tree with his second, fluffed a lob wedge then hit the same club
to one foot for a tap-in five.
Although most players seem to like Valderrama, Australian Stuart Appleby criticised
it despite his five-under 66.
"I
have to say it's way too tight for golf and I think the greens are a little too
tough," the Florida-based player said of the venue for the 1997 Ryder Cup and
a course rated the best in Europe.
