Ogilvy stays out in front
Associated Press
Saturday, March 22, 2008

DORAL, Fla. --- Geoff Ogilvy was bogey-free over two days on the Blue Monster, saving par four times from the bunker Friday on his way to 5-under-par 67 to remain atop the leaderboard at the CA Championship.

Remaining free from the ominous presence of Tiger Woods?

That might be more difficult.

Ogilvy remained one shot clear of Woods, who birdied his final two holes earlier for 67.

Woods' last birdie, on the par-3 ninth, was a bending putt from just inside 25 feet that looked remarkably similar -- minus the hat-spiking celebration -- to his winning putt five days ago at Bay Hill that kept him undefeated since September. Woods raised the putter in his left hand when the ball still had some 8 feet left to reach the cup.

Ogilvy, who hasn't won since capturing the U.S. Open at Winged Foot in 2006, was at 12-under-par 132. He will be in the final group today with Woods and Adam Scott, who hit into the bushes and the water on the final two holes to spoil a good day. Scott had to settle for 68, leaving him three shots behind.

Ogilvy and Scott are best friends, prompting Ogilvy to suggest some Australian voodoo to take down Woods.

"He's won these last however many golf tournaments," Ogilvy said. "He hasn't lost too many when in contention after two rounds. He hasn't lost too many at Doral. There's a lot of things in his favor."

Woods made two eagles in one round for the first time since the Buick Invitational last year on the North Course at Torrey Pines, and didn't seem overly impressed with the feat. The par 5s usually are the most vulnerable aspect of the Blue Monster, and three of them can be reached with an iron.

It wasn't that simple for Woods. From a bunker left of the 12th green, he blasted out beautifully and raised his sand wedge before the ball entered the heart of the cup for an eagle that gave him a share of the lead. And on the downwind first hole, he hit 7-iron from about 190 yards to 6 feet for his second eagle, moving him to the top of the leaderboard.

What happened in between was equally important.

Woods made four par-saving putts outside 6 feet in his round, including a pair of 8-footers on Nos. 17 and 18.

"I didn't want to lose any momentum," he said.

Ogilvy thought he played well enough, although he had to scramble. He took only 23 putts.

Despite hitting into the water and taking bogey on the par-5 eighth, Scott climbed steadily up the leaderboard and was tied with Woods until hitting his tee shot on the 17th into bushes, forcing him to play left-handed. He recovered well but missed a 10-foot par putt, then he hit his next tee shot in the water.

"Disappointing finish with two bogeys," said Scott, who was at 9-under-par 135.

Aside from Woods and Scott, no other players were within five shots after Friday.

From the Saturday, March 22, 2008 edition of the Augusta Chronicle
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