GOLF ROUNDUP: Woods enjoys blazing start at Buick Open

Published 10:20 pm Saturday, July 31, 2010

GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Tiger Woods had the best five-hole start of his career, chipping in for eagle and making four birdies.

Woods finished with a season-low 9-under 63 Friday in the Buick Open to shoot up the leaderboard. The round was his best round in relation to par in four years.

Woods also eagled the 340-yard, par-4 12th, hitting a chip from about 40 yards that bounced on the green and landed in the cup.

“It was kind of luck,” he said. “I hit it too hard, but somehow it caught the bottom.”

Woods was coming off what he said was probably the worst putting day of his career on Thursday, leading to a lackluster 71 in his first competitive round since missing the cut at the British Open.

He quickly clawed back into contention with his birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie tear and finished the day 10 under for the tournament.

John Senden shot a 66 to take the second-round lead at 14 under, two shots ahead of Michael Letzig (65) and another stroke in front of Vaughn Taylor (68) and Bill Lunde (65).

Woods entered the weekend four strokes back in a pack of six, including Kevin Stadler, who shot his second straight 67.

Women’s British Open

LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England — Catriona Matthew of Scotland hit a hole in one in a 5-under 67 Friday to share the second-round lead with Giulia Sergas of Italy at the Women’s British Open. Sergas also shot 67 after making five birdies five on the back nine. Both players totaled 3-under 141 at Royal Lytham and St. Annes links course.

U.S. Senior Open

CARMEL, Ind. — Tennessee amateur Tim Jackson shot a 5-under 67 at Crooked Stick to take the lead at 11-under 133 — matching the lowest 36-hole total in event history. He opened with a 66 on Thursday, the best score ever by an amateur in the tournament. Greg Norman stumbled early in the round, but recovered nicely, ending the round with two straight birdies to get to 8 under. He was three strokes back after a 70.

Moravia Silesia Open

CELADNA, Czech Republic — Graeme Storm shot another 4-under 68 Friday to share the lead after the second round of the Moravia Silesia Open. Storm birdied four of his first seven holes and was tied with fellow Englishman Steve Webster at 8-under 136. Five players were a shot back.