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Purtzer Conquers Oak Hill For Lead

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The Associated Press

Published: May 24, 2008

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Closing with a 25-foot putt for birdie, Tom Purtzer put a dent in Oak Hill Country Club's stingy reputation to take the lead after the second round of the Senior PGA Championship on Friday.

Purtzer, a five-time PGA Tour winner, shot a 3-under 67 to go to even-par 140. That put him one up on Jay Haas, the first-round leader, who shot a 2-over 72, and Massy Kuramoto, who finished the day with a round of 2 under.

Mark O'Meara scored the tournament's low round of 66 to jump into a tie for fourth with Bernhard Langer at 142 in the $2 million event.

While temperatures warmed to above 60 Friday after a bone-chilling and wet opening round, a tricky and persistent wind played havoc with competitors along the East Course's narrow and well-protected fairways.

Purtzer was one of only eight players to post a subpar round in the first two days, including Haas' 1-under Thursday.

There were 26 players within six shots of the lead. Greg Norman, Scott Hoch and defending Senior PGA champion Denis Watson were part of a 10-player logjam at 145.

Tampa's Doug LaCrosse shot 80-159 and missed the cut.

WOODS TO SKIP MEMORIAL: Tiger Woods decided Friday not to play in the Memorial as he recovers from knee surgery, meaning he likely will go to the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines without having played a tournament in two months.

Woods, who had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee April 15, was hopeful of playing before the U.S. Open. His office notified the PGA Tour that he would not enter the Memorial, a tour official said.

This is the second time in three years that Woods has had a two-month layoff before a major championship. He missed nine weeks in 2006 while coping with the death of his father, returning to the U.S. Open at Winged Foot and missing the cut for the only time in a major.

PGA: Phil Mickelson is carrying five different wedges in his bag at the Crowne Plaza Invitational in Fort Worth, Texas. He's used every one of them - very effectively.

Along with his putter.

Mickelson had 11 one-putts and converted all six sand saves in a 2-under 68 in the second round to take the lead at 7-under 133. The world's No. 2-ranked player led Matt Kuchar (64), Brian Gay (65) and Johnson Wagner (71) by one stroke.

"It was probably the best putting round I've had all year," said Mickelson, who needed only 25 putts.

That's because Mickelson kept setting himself up with the short clubs. From the fairways, the rough and the bunkers.

Only four of his one-putts were 9 feet or longer (the longest was 18). Three of those came at Nos. 3-5, the trio of holes known as Colonial's "horrible horseshoe" because of the difficulty and layout of that stretch, where he hit his approach into greenside bunkers each time and saved par.

LPGA: On a seesaw day, Dina Ammaccapane liked what she saw when it was done.

Ammaccapane, who had six birdies and three bogeys, shot her second straight 69 to gain a one-stroke lead after the second round of the LPGA Corning (N.Y.) Classic.

Ammaccapane, winless since joining the tour full time two decades ago and non-exempt this year, was at 6-under 138. First-round leader Erica Blasberg (74), Janice Moodie (68), Wendy Ward (70) and Katie Futcher (69) were one shot back.

Two-time Corning winner Rosie Jones, who came out of retirement to help celebrate the tournament's 30th anniversary, followed her opening 74 with a 76 and missed the cut in her first appearance on tour since the 2006 U.S. Open.

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