Monty surges into Target World Challenge lead
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) – Colin Montgomerie passed a big test Saturday, overcoming a few obnoxious fans and a pairing with Tiger Woods to post a 4-under 67 and take a two-shot lead in the Target World Challenge. Montgomerie was hardly intimidated playing with the tournament host, needing only four holes to put four shots between them on the leaderboard.
And when Jay Haas made a charge into the lead, the 41-year-old Scot responded with a 4-iron into 8 feet for eagle on the par-5 16th and a 9-iron into 8 feet for another birdie on the 17th to finish at 13-under 200.
“There’s no satisfaction beating any player,” Montgomerie said. “The satisfaction comes from seeing your name on the top of the leaderboard.”
Sweeter yet would be seeing it there Sunday afternoon, having Woods hand him the trophy and cashing the $1.25 million check, the fourth-largest payout.
Woods recovered from a terrible start – 3 over after four holes – with a birdie-par-birdie finish for a 69 that left him two shots behind along with Haas (67) and Jim Furyk, who birdied five of his last six holes for a 67.
Miguel Angel Jimenez had the low round of the day at 66 and was another shot behind.
Montgomerie enjoyed the warmth of southern California and the reception from the fans, but not all of them. One man cheered loudly when he missed a birdie at the 12th, and the Scot glared.
“That was uncalled for,” Woods said, who had security talk to the fan.
Asked about it later, Monty brushed it off.
He was more excited about his play.
Montgomerie is in good position to win his first stroke-play title in the United States. He won the Match Play Championship in 1998 – the year before it became an official event – and the Skins Game in 2000.
The Target World Challenge doesn’t count in the record books, although Montgomerie surely would take satisfaction out of beating Woods, Vijay Singh and the rest of the elite, 16-man field at Sherwood.
“It’s obviously a big mistake he invited me in the first place,” Montgomerie said with a laugh.
And given his history being paired with Woods in stroke play – a drubbing at the ’97 Masters, a three-hole playoff loss in Germany two years ago – Monty showed he was headed in the right direction.
“If you had said I would shoot 67, I would have walked home – well, not home, but to the hotel,” he said. “If you would tell me I’ll shoot 67 tomorrow, I’ll walk to the airport.”
Woods probably wanted to walk home to Florida after his start.
He three-putted for bogey on No. 1, missing from 2 feet for par. He left a shot in the bunker at No. 3 and took double bogey. He three-putted for bogey on No. 4, missing that par putt from 3 feet.
“There were a lot of holes left,” Woods said. “I had been playing well all week, and I figured I might as well do what I had been doing, and not play hockey on the greens.”
His goal for Sunday?
“Get off to a better start than I did today,” Woods said.
The best start belonged to the 51-year-old Haas, who birdied four of his first six holes and had a two-shot lead when he got up-and-down for birdie from short of the 13th green.
His only glitch was going long on the 14th hole for bogey, but he was solid coming down the stretch.
“It’s obviously a pretty impressive leaderboard, so I don’t think anybody is too intimidated seeing my name up there,” Haas said.
Furyk also struggled from the start, leaving two shots in the bunker at No. 3 for double bogey.
But he had the best finish, with birdies on every hole except the par-5 16th.
About the only player missing is Singh, the PGA Tour player of the year.
He birdied three of his first four holes, but made no progress the rest of the way and had to settle for a 68 that left him 11 shots out of the lead.
DIVOTS: ABC Sports announcer Mike Tirico and analyst Paul Azinger joined the chorus Saturday urging the PGA Tour to release the final vote for player of the year. The tour refuses to do so, with spokesman Bob Combs once saying it was similar to the Oscars in that no one knows who finishes second. … Miguel Angel Jimenez said the secret to his five victories this year is being happy on the golf course. Struggling to find the right words, the Spaniard picked up a water bottle and said, “Golf is either half-full or half-empty.”