StarBulletin.com

Goosen shows off new game


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POSTED: Saturday, February 14, 2009

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. » Retief Goosen is sporting a new look at a tournament he has never played. After an 8-under 64 in the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, he's hopeful of seeing some old results.

Goosen hit a 3-iron to 8 feet for an eagle on the second hole at Pebble Beach, then picked up even more momentum by holing a 70-foot chip on the par-3 fifth green for birdie.

With short birdies on two of the last four holes, he was at 12-under 132 and had a two-shot lead over Dustin Johnson.

Goosen is wearing prescription sunglasses for the first time in his career, and the belly putter he tried out last week in San Diego is starting to take hold. Now if he can only get the results that made him part of the “;Big Four”; in golf as recently as four years ago.

“;I'd like to turn my game around and play better,”; said Goosen, who has fallen to No. 42 in the world and not won on the PGA Tour since the now-defunct International in Colorado four years ago.

Johnson built an early lead playing Spyglass Hill, with four birdies on his first six holes to reach 11 under. But he pulled his tee shot into the trees on the 325-yard 17th, hit a tree trying to chip out and took double bogey. He had to settle for a 69, leaving him at 10-under 134 as he heads to Poppy Hills and its five par 5s today.

Mike Weir of Canada and Mark Calcavecchia each had a 69 at Pebble Beach and were among those at 8-under 136. Calcavecchia is playing here for the first time since 2004.

British Open and PGA champion Padraig Harrington had a 73 at Pebble Beach as the breeze strengthened but the skies remained surprisingly clear, leaving him at 3-over 147 and in serious jeopardy of missing the cut. Also at 3 over was Vijay Singh, who had a 75 at Pebble Beach.

Phil Mickelson, a two-time champion at Pebble Beach who is off to a slow start this year, got up-and-down from a greenside bunker on his final hole at Poppy Hills for a 71, leaving him 11 shots out of the lead.

Kaneohe native Dean Wilson shot a 71 to remain tied for 13th while Punahou product Parker McLachlin struggled to a 73 to drop into a tie for 164th.

 

Pate, Langer share lead

BOCA RATON, Fla. » Jerry Pate and Bernhard Langer were in the lead at 8 under after the opening round of the Allianz Championships.

Pate, who finished his round just ahead of Langer, wasn't even sure he would play at the Old Course at Broken Sound. He's been trying to get over a recent cold and has been hobbled by surgeries on his knee and shoulder. He finally made the decision to play late Tuesday night—and it wound up being a good one. Pate had an eagle and six birdies in his round of 64, matching his best score since joining the senior circuit.

 

Webb falls back in Australia

MELBOURNE, Australia » Two-time defending champion Karrie Webb struggled in tough afternoon conditions and shot a 2-over 75 to fall two shots off the lead after the second round of the Women's Australian Open.

Webb, who had a 66 in the first round, trails Lee Chang-hee after the South Korean shot a 70 for a two-round total of 7-under 139.

 

Kim makes the cut

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia » Danny Chia of Malaysia shot a 7-under 65 to take a three-stroke lead after the second round of the Malaysian Open.

American star Anthony Kim recovered from an opening 78 with a 65 to make the cut.