Senior Players Championship: Tom Watson shot a bogey-free 68 to take a 2-shot lead over four players yesterday at the Senior Players Championship at the Baltimore Country Club in Timonium, Md.
Seeking his first win of the year, Watson leads four players by two strokes. Craig Stadler shot a 65 for a 136, tied with Bob Tway (68), Jay Haas (70) and Mark Wiebe (67).
Bernhard Langer made six birdies for a 65 to come in at 137, along with Loren Roberts (67) and John Cook (68).
Lonnie Nielsen, who started the day with a one-shot lead over Watson and Haas, was done in by a double-bogey on the 452-yard, par-4 13th hole and finished with a 73.
Watson returned to the limelight last July when he shined at the British Open, threatening to become the oldest player to win a PGA Tour major before finally falling to Stewart Cink in a playoff.
On the Champions Tour, however, Watson has not finished better than fourth in nine tournaments. This week, on a difficult course, he is playing like a man who will not be denied.
"I drove the ball very well. That makes it a lot easier when you're driving the ball in the fairway," he said. "The rough is not for old folks like me. It's hard to get out of it."
Having won dozens of tournaments and more than $22 million during his illustrious career, Watson has no need for another trophy and isn't in it for the money. Playing against talented foes under pressure over 18 challenging holes is what keeps him going.
"My motivation is still the competition," Watson said. "To hit that quality shot when the chips are down, that's what I'm out here for. Anybody can do it in a friendly match."
Navistar LPGA Classic: Ninth-grader Alexis Thompson shot a 3-under 69 for a share of the lead with top-ranked Lorena Ochoa and three others after the second round yesterday in Prattville, Ala.
Thompson, 14, is trying to become the second-youngest winner in LPGA Tour history — and the youngest in a full tournament.
Marlene Hagge won the 1952 Sarasota Open 14 days after her 18th birthday and took the Bakersfield Open two months later, but both were 18-hole tournaments. Paula Creamer won the 2005 Sybase Classic at 18 years, 9 months to become the youngest winner of a full tournament.
Turning Stone Resort Championship: Vaughn Taylor has shot his second straight 67 to gain a one-shot lead after two rounds yesterday in Verna, N.Y.
Taylor was at 10-under 134 after another cold, wet and somewhat windy day at Atunyote Golf Club.
Tied for second were Matt Kuchar (68), rookie Leif Olson (69), and Nicholas Thompson (67), whose 14-year-old sister, Alexis, is tied for the lead at the Navistar LPGA Classic in Alabama.
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