The man Ian Poulter calls "the best golfer in the world right now", Lee Westwood has succumbed to a suspected torn calf muscle and has flown back to the UK to get treatment. The world #3 will miss next week's PGA Championship. The injury has been niggling him for the last 2 weeks, curtailing his practice time and explaining his second round of 77.
I suffered through a serious calf injury, I felt it pop while out running down a long steep hill, and trust me they are difficult muscles to heal in part because of their density, and of course because you are using them all the time. So Lee's quest for that elusive major is gone for this year, so perhaps is his shot at winning the Race to Dubai. You can bet Euro captain Colin Montgomerie is hoping his main man will be fit for the Ryder Cup.
So with Tiger near the bottom of the field, the coronation of Phil Mickelson as the world #1 seems to be at hand. His -2 68 has him a shot off the lead at -6.
Retief Goosen 66 is at -7 and Justin Leonard 66 is also at -6
Peter Hanson 66, Bo Van Pelt 68,and Bubba Watson 71, are all at -5
6 players are at -4, Adam Scott E, Nick Watney 68, Lucas Glover 66, Miguel Jimenez 67, Paul Casey 68 and Matt Kuchar 67
Over half the field are at E or better so it should be tight right down to the last putt on Sunday and part of the reason for that is that a certain Mr Woods is not running away with the lead this year.
We are all playing amateur psychologist when it comes to his unusually indifferent play,but I do know this. The rarefied air he has been breathing as the number 1 everything in the world of golf, requires complete focus and determination as well as a fanatical work ethic and of course enormous talent.
From what I hear him saying, and first hand reports from Sean Foley and Bill Paul,Tiger has come to realize that time with his wife and children is far more important than his time to practice, never mind his quest Jack's majors record.
' You don't miss what you've got until you lose it' is an old saying, and I think it applies to Tiger and his family right now.
Having said all that, he is playing very poorly. He is missing his driver right and left, his iron play is average, how many putts has he missed from under 10 feet, and his chipping and even his bunker play are shocking.
Still Sam and Charlie won't care about any of that when daddy gets home.....
Here are Saturday's pairings..
1:55 pm Goosen, Retief Leonard, Justin
1:45 pm Mickelson, Phil Hanson, Peter
1:35 pm Van Pelt, Bo Watson, Bubba
1:25 pm Scott, Adam Watney, Nick
1:15 pm Glover, Lucas Jimenez, Miguel A.
1:05 pm Casey, Paul Kuchar, Matt
12:55 pm Overton, Jeff Johnson, Dustin
12:45 pm McIlroy, Rory O'Hair, Sean
12:35 pm Mahan, Hunter Wilson, Oliver
12:25 pm Palmer, Ryan Moore, Ryan
12:15 pm Ogilvy, Geoff Fisher, Ross
12:05 pm Noren, Alexander Curtis, Ben
11:55 am Day, Jason Quiros, Alvaro
11:45 am Cabrera, Angel Kaymer, Martin
11:35 am Donald, Luke Harrington, Padraig
11:25 am McDowell, Graeme Bohn, Jason
11:15 am Haas, Bill Perry, Kenny
11:05 am Stricker, Steve Els, Ernie
10:55 am Kingston, James McGowan, Ross
10:45 am Furyk, Jim Johnson, Zach
10:35 am Bourdy, Gregory Campbell, Chad
10:25 am Garcia, Sergio Laird, Martin
10:15 am Crane, Ben Fowler, Rickie
10:05 am Weir, Mike Rose, Justin
9:55 am Cink, Stewart Schwartzel, Charl
9:45 am Matteson, Troy Clark, Tim
9:35 am Molinari, Francesco Yang, Y.E.
9:25 am Poulter, Ian Oosthuizen, Louis
9:15 am Molinari, Edoardo Miyamoto, Katsumasa
9:05 am Slocum, Heath Choi, K.J.
8:55 am Verplank, Scott Fraser, Marcus
8:45 am Ishikawa, Ryo Horsey, David
8:35 am Khan, Simon Davies, Rhys
8:25 am Singh, Vijay Otto, Hennie
8:15 am Weekley, Boo Karlsson, Robert
8:05 am Dyson, Simon Appleby, Stuart
7:55 am Woods, Tiger Holmes, J.B.
7:45 am Hansen, Soren Ikeda, Yuta
7:35 am Villegas, Camilo Jonzon, Michael
7:25 am Kim, Anthony Stenson, Henrik
More to follow
Bryan Angus
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