Associated Press
Friday, March 3
MIAMI -- Franklin Langham felt the still, warm air, saw the ridiculously low scores and realized that Friday was no time to play it safe in the Doral-Ryder Open.
On a day when the Blue Monster was besieged by birdies and records, Langham added his name to the books with a 9-under 63 that gave him a three-stroke lead and the lowest 36-hole score in the 39-year history of the tournament.
"So many guys are shooting so low. You have to take it with a grain of salt," Langham said. "You've got to keep making birdies."
A 10-foot birdie putt on his final hole put Langham at 15-under 129, shattering the 36-hole Doral record of 133 set by Paul Azinger and Greg Norman in 1993. It also was the lowest halfway score on tour since David Frost was at 126 in the St. Jude Classic last year.
And unless the wind starts to blow, the fun could just be getting under way.
Stephen Ames, who almost withdrew when his 3-year-old son was hospitalized with pneumonia Wednesday, broke the Blue Monster record with a bogey-free 61 that left him tied for second with Shigeki Maruyama (65), Jim Furyk (67) and Vijay Singh (67).
Edward Fryatt, in danger of missing the cut, tied a PGA Tour record with eight consecutive birdies in his round of 10-under 62, which put him at 137 -- in pretty good shape to contend on the weekend until Langham went to work.
The cut was at 3-under 141, the lowest ever at Doral. Among those hanging around for the weekend is Erik Compton, the 20-year-old redshirt freshman at Georgia and the first heart-transplant recipient to compete on tour.
Langham, 31, who was born in Augusta, Ga., and used to work the scoreboard on the 16th hole during The Masters, has never won on tour, or even led after 36 holes. He's pointed in the right direction, however, considering he was tied for the first-round lead at Doral a year ago and shot a 76 in the second round.
He was 13 strokes better this year, which he attributes to pristine conditions and more confidence.
"I know I can play out here now," Langham said. "I'm like everyone else. I want to win a golf tournament."
There is still much work left.
Lurking at 135 is David Duval, who gained more momentum with his putter in a round of 64, and Ernie Els, who had a 68 despite a bogey on the 18th hole.
"So many people can win," Langham said. "I'm just happy I have a chance."
Only three weeks ago, Maruyama was tied for the lead after two rounds in the Buick Invitational, where Tiger Woods was going for his seventh straight PGA Tour victory. Asked if he could be the one to end the streak, the Japanese star replied, "No chance."
Friday was another matter.
"Tiger is not here, so there is a possibility," he said through his interpreter.
He proved to be a pacesetter for Ames, who spent the entire round trying to catch Maruyama and finally did with birdies on the last two holes. When Ames added it all up, he signed for a 61 to break the Blue Monster record.
The previous mark was 62 -- twice by Norman (1990 and 1993) and last done by Furyk in the second round of 1998.
"Imagine shooting 67 here and feeling like you got left behind," Ames said. Of the 140 players in the field, 103 broke par.
Ames could have gone even lower. His 3-iron into the par-5 eighth nearly went in for double eagle, rolling over the top of the cup. Then he missed the 4-foot eagle putt coming back. He also missed birdie putts of 3 and 8 feet, but Ames didn't forget about the three 30-footers he made.
"That's golf, isn't it?" he said.
It was a new kind of golf for Doral.
Furyk's previous record of 62 came on a course redesigned by Raymond Floyd, who was instructed to put teeth into the monster and did so by putting in a bunch of sand.
On Friday, the wind was next to nothing -- palm fronds only seemed to move when jets took off from Miami International Airport. And Floyd, whose changes were softened to ease player complaints, was smiling as he looked at the low scores.
"It's too easy for this golf tournament," he said. "The teeth have been taken out."
Divots
Fryatt isn't the only member of his family to set a record. His father, James Fryatt, once held a British soccer record for the the fastest goal after kickoff -- four seconds. While Fryatt was born in England, he moved to America when his father joined the NASL in Philadelphia.
Jean Van de Velde had problems twice last year with airlines losing his clubs. Now this -- his
putter was bent when it arrived in Miami. Van de Velde tried to fix it, but wound up getting a different one for the tournament.
Jack Nicklaus is now 0-for-2 in making the cut on the PGA Tour this year. His missed a 20-inch birdie putt on the 18th for his second straight 75.
Friday, March 3
MIAMI -- Franklin Langham felt the still, warm air, saw the ridiculously low scores and realized that Friday was no time to play it safe in the Doral-Ryder Open.
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| Stephen Ames watches his 11th birdie drop for a 61 and the year's best round. |
