Teenage New Zealand golfer Danny Lee will earn his first prize money as a professional after making his first cut yesterday, firing a three under par 69 in the second round of the US$6.4 million ($11.5 million) Wachovia Championship at Quail Hollow in North Carolina.
Lee's 69 pushed him upthe leaderboard into a tie for 17th at four under par. The 19-year-old, who missed the cut at his professional debut in last week's Zurich Open in New Orleans, posted five birdies including three in a row. Two bogies were the only blemishes on a solid card.
Meanwhile, Tiger Woods bogeyed two of the last three holes to concede the lead to Bubba Watson and Retief Goosen after two rounds. Watson overpowered Quail Hollow, tying a course record with a 30 on the front nine, and shooting 7-under 65. Goosen, a two-time US Open champion who thrives on fast greens, had another 68 to join Watson atop the leaderboard with an 8-under 136.
Woods seized control with a 55-foot birdie putt on the ninth hole and had a two-shot lead for most of the back nine until a sloppy finish for a 72 that left him one shot behind.
Ten players were separated by two shots going into the weekend on a course that proved it doesn't need rough to be frightening - not with firm, slick greens that made it difficult to get close to the hole.
"I didn't drive the ball particularly well today and didn't hit my irons as well as I would like," Woods said after carding an even-par 72. That score would have been much higher if not for a sharp short game on a day when he hit only eight greens in regulation.
Adam Scott (75) was among those to miss the cut, finishing at eight-over 152. Masters champion Angel Cabrera also bowed out early.
