Woods makes more history at PGA

Tulsa, OK (Sports Network) - Tiger Woods matched the lowest round in major championship history on Friday with an eight-under-par 62, a historic round that gave him the second-round lead at the PGA Championship at Southern Hills.
Woods stood at seven-under par for his round with a great look at birdie on the 18th hole. His 12-footer for a record-setting 62 seemed destined for the cup, but lipped out after going three-quarters of the way around the hole.
"I knew if I made that putt on the last hole it would have been a nice record to have," said the defending champion. "I thought it was in. I guess a touch firmer."
He finished 36 holes at six-under-par 134, which is good for a two-shot lead over Scott Verplank, who shot a four-under 66 in the morning.
Last year's U.S. Open winner, Geoff Ogilvy (68), and Stephen Ames (69) are tied for third place at minus-three. Woody Austin posted an even-par 70 and is alone in fifth place at two-under 138.
But no one was in Woods' league on Friday.
He birdied the first, then rattled off back-to-back birdies from the fourth. Woods bogeyed seven for the second straight day, then tapped in a short birdie putt at the ninth.
Woods also birdied the 10th to reach three-under par and trail by one. He appeared to be in trouble at the 12th, but sank an improbable 30-footer to save par.
"The putt on 12 was huge," he said. "It kept the momentum of the round going."
That putt certainly spurred Woods on as he went on a spectacular run after the par save.
At the par-five 13th, Woods found a bunker with his second, but blasted out to three feet. He converted that birdie putt, then holed a 15-foot chip from the fringe for another birdie at 14.
Woods drained a 20-footer at the 15th to polish off three consecutive birdies. That put him alone in the lead at minus-six, but his margin was extended when Ogilvy bogeyed the last two holes.
Woods needed at least one more birdie on the way to the clubhouse for the 18- hole major scoring record. He had decent looks at the 16th and 17th, but did not convert.
The putt cruelly stayed above ground at Southern Hills' demanding closing hole, but Woods, true to form, put the major championship ahead of everything else.
"Sixty-two would have meant I had a three-shot lead, not a two-shot lead," he offered.
Woods is now in a very comfortable position. Of the six previous majors contested at Southern Hills, the winners have all held at least a part of the 36-hole lead.
"I'd like it to continue," said Woods, who also matched Raymond Floyd's course record.
Woods has 12 major titles on his mantle, and in all 12 he has held the lead on Saturday night. The game's best front-runner has now taken first place and the rest of the field will need something special to catch the No. 1 player in the world.
Verplank is in the best spot to do it.
He parred his first eight holes, then rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt at the ninth. Two holes later, Verplank hit a seven-iron to six feet and canned the birdie putt to reach two-under par for the championship.
At the par-four 15th, Verplank hit an eight-iron to 12 feet to set up his third birdie of the round. He found the fairway at 17, but was slightly blocked by some trees. No matter, as Verplank punched a pitching-wedge to eight feet and holed that birdie try to take the lead.
Verplank had a decent chance to pad his advantage at the closing hole. He had 20 feet for birdie, but missed the putt and settled for a bogey-free round of 66.
"I hit the ball yesterday and today as good as I've ever hit it," acknowledged Verplank. "I just hit lots of fairways, lots of greens, very solid shots and putting at birdie most holes."
Pat Perez (69), Niclas Fasth (68) and John Senden (70) are knotted in sixth place at minus-one.
John Daly, who started the round in second place, struggled a bit on Friday. He shot a three-over 73 and is tied for ninth place with Ernie Els (68), Arron Oberholser (72), Camilo Villegas (71), Adam Scott (68) and Paul McGinley (66). That group is at even-par 140.
Phil Mickelson carded a one-under 69 on Friday to move to plus-two for the championship. The 2005 winner was not satisfied despite an under-par round at this demanding track.
"It just feels like I'm leaving four, five shots out there, is all," said Mickelson, who has missed the cut in his last two majors. "I feel like I'm playing a lot better than I'm scoring. That's what's been frustrating."