source: gmanews.tvPONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida -- The Players Championship is set for a showdown between home favorites and British challengers with American David Toms the unlikely leader after Friday's second round.
The 44-year-old Toms, without a win in five years, fired a four-under-par 68 for a 10 under total of 134, one shot ahead of compatriot Nick Watney (71) in stifling heat at the TPC Sawgrass.
Lurking in the chasing group were Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell (69), looking back in form after a nightmare couple of months, and world number three Luke Donald (67) from England, sitting two shots off the lead.
Adding to the contrast between young faces from the British Isles and experienced Americans, 44-year-old Steve Stricker from Wisconsin also ended the day eight under par along with Lucas Glover, who won last week at Quail Hollow.
Toms appeared slightly surprised to be on top of the leaderboard after a round of six birdies and two bogeys to follow his opening round 66. It has been, after all, some time since the Louisiana native has been considered a contender.
"I haven't done anything great, haven't made a lot of putts, or chip-ins or anything like that. I've just played very, very solid golf," Toms told reporters.
Toms has the pedigree -- 12 career PGA Tour victories including his one major at the 2001 PGA Championship -- but he also has the air of a player who has long since stopped worrying about when the next prize is going to come.
"It's all about enjoying the game, enjoying the competition and if you get the results, that is a bonus as well," he said.
McDowell and Donald, two of the new guard of European golfers that has set up camp at the top end of the world rankings, certainly consider winning more than an added bonus.
Donald can take over as world number one with victory on Sunday and he showed all the composure and elegance that has accompanied his consistency this year with a bogey-free round.
McDowell spent last week fixing swing problems with his coach in Orlando after missing the cut at the Masters and then New Orleans, and it has clearly worked.
"My striking is back, my pressure's back on the ball again and I'm really, really happy the way I have struck the ball in the last two days. I'm happy to be back in contention, it is where you want to be at the weekends," he said.
One player definitely not where he wanted to be at the weekend is the much-talked about emerging American talent Rickie Fowler, who missed the cut after rounds of 77 and 68.
Ireland's Padraig Harrington also missed out after a dreadful round of 78 where he shot three bogeys and a double bogey on the back nine.
South African Ernie Els will be kicking himself after making a hash of his final hole where he took two chips to get on the green and then missed a four-foot putt as he bogeyed, the extra stroke costing him a place in weekend action.
Italian brothers Francesco and Edoardo Molinari, Japan's Ryuji Imada, Fijian Vijay Singh and German Alex Cejka also missed the cut.
Defending champion Tim Clark and Australian Geoff Ogilvy both pulled out during their second rounds due to injury -- joining Thursday's high-profile withdrawal, Tiger Woods on the absent list for the weekend. - Reuters
source: gmanews.tv
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