Stanley, long off the tee and as polished as any of the PGA Tour rookies who won last year, was at 14-under 130. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ADVERTISING ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Maybe those swing changes are paying off
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ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Maybe those swing changes are paying off for Tiger Woods.
Woods moved into contention with a 3-under 69 Friday after three birdies over five holes on the back nine in the second round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, finishing two shots behind leader Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark (67).
“I’ve grown to understand what Sean (Foley) wants me to do and how my body is going to do those things and produce the numbers he wants me to produce,” Woods said.
Olesen made seven birdies in his first 12 holes for a one-shot lead over 18-year-old Gareth Maybin of Northern Ireland (70) and Matteo Mannasero of Italy (65).
“For me it’s very special. It’s not many years ago I was watching them on TV,” Olesen said of the world’s best golfers. “I know it’s tough, but I’m trying to keep playing my own game and do my best.”
Rory McIlroy finished with a 72 after a two-stroke penalty for brushing away sand in front of his ball on the fringe at the ninth hole.
The 22-year-old U.S. Open champion, playing again with Woods and top-ranked Luke Donald (72), opened with a bogey and double bogey on the third after an errant drive and some shaky putting.
He rallied with three birdies before a double bogey on the ninth. That’s when Donald spotted the sand infraction and called him on it.
Players are allowed to brush away sand on the green but not on the fringe.
“Wasn’t thinking clearly and a penalty there,” McIlroy said. “My ball was just maybe 6 feet off the green, and there was a lot of sand in between my ball and the hole.”
McIlroy, the co-leader after the first round with a 67, managed two birdies on the next three holes after the infraction.
Woods started slowly with two birdies and a bogey on the front nine. He warmed up with birdies on the 11th, 12th and 15th before dropping a shot on No. 16 after an errant drive landed in deep rough.
STANLEY TAKES LEAD AT TORREY PINES
SAN DIEGO — The tougher South Course at Torrey Pines suited Kyle Stanley just fine Friday in the Farmers Insurance Open.
Stanley overcame a double bogey early in his round by running off four birdies on the front nine for a 4-under 68, giving him a one-shot lead over Brandt Snedeker going into the weekend.
Snedeker, who first gained notoriety as a rookie at Torrey Pines when he shot 61 on the North Course, had a 64 on the North to make a swift climb up the leaderboard. He is coming off hip surgery at the end of last year and made his season debut at the Humana Challenge last week by getting into the hunt. He tied for eighth, and here he is again.
Stanley, long off the tee and as polished as any of the PGA Tour rookies who won last year, was at 14-under 130.
