Ogilvy stays a step ahead
POSTED: Saturday, January 10, 2009
KAPALUA, Maui » Geoff Ogilvy only has four victories in his eight years on the PGA Tour, but three of them were on a world stage.
LEADERBOARD
After yesterday's second round:
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The Australian would like nothing better than to add the winners-only Mercedes-Benz Championship to his already stellar short list that includes the 2006 U.S. Open and a pair of World Golf Championship titles.
Ogilvy looked nearly invincible through 34 holes yesterday before carding his first bogey at the par-4 17th on a three-putt. He followed that up with another three-putt for par at the 665-yard 18th to leave a somewhat bittersweet feeling as he walked toward the scorer's tent.
Despite these hiccups, Ogilvy shot a 5-under 68 for a two-day total of 11-under 135 that left him one stroke clear of fast-closing D.J. Trahan, who spent part of his offseason hunting moose in Newfoundland. Even though Trahan was off three months, his game appears spot on after he shot a 7-under 66 to go to 10-under 136 for the tournament.
South African Ernie Els was another shot back at 9-under 137 after he fired a 4-under 69 that could have been so much better had he not left several opportunities on the course. He missed a 2-footer for par at No. 8, a 7-footer for birdie at No. 10, a 3-footer for birdie at No. 12, before making a mess from 40 feet at No. 14 that led to another bogey.
Those missteps didn't hurt him too much, but had he managed to do what he did on Thursday, Els might have been two shots clear of the field. Anthony Kim (68), Kenny Perry (71), and Davis Love III (70) head a list of six golfers tied for fourth at 7-under 139. Australian Adam Scott shot himself into contention with a 67 as he and Boo Weekley, who four-putted from 13 feet at the last, are tied for 10th at 6-under 140.
They are all chasing Ogilvy, who is considered one of the best front-runners on tour. His first bogey of the year came at the tough 17th. He also missed a 6-footer for birdie at the 18th, before settling for a disappointing par.
“;I'm happy where I am,”; Ogilvy said. “;I played really, really well on the front nine. Yeah, made a bunch of putts. Didn't hit many good shots, but made some putts. The back nine wasn't too bad. I couldn't really make a putt. I birdied the 15th and then finished a bit rough, which is a bit frustrating.”;
Don't talk to Els about frustrating. He had several opportunities to go low again, only to see them slip away. He was only 40 feet from the pin after nearly landing his drive on the green at the short par-4 14th. In deep rough, his chip shot went 20 feet right into the bunker. He barely got out on his third shot, as he turned away and then took another big divot of sand in frustration.
Els missed a 14-footer for par that led to his fourth bogey of the tournament.
“;If I made some putts, I could have had a low one,”; Els said. “;I knew today was the day to get a low one. You know, I'm there, but I feel like I could be a lot better. But it's fine. It's the first week of the year and I guess I've just got to be patient.”;
The weather was perfect yesterday, as 27 of the golfers shot par or better. There were 10 rounds in the 60s, including a 69 from local favorite Parker McLachlin that left him even par for the tournament and in 24th place with Vijay Singh and Masters winners Trevor Immelman and Zach Johnson.
Trahan had the best round of the tournament. After playing in The Tour Championship last fall, he took off to go hunting. The South Carolina native said he loves to hunt as much as golf, even bagging a moose during the offseason.
“;I enjoy hunting a lot,”; Trahan said. “;I spent several months doing pretty much nothing but that. It was great. And when it was time to get back, maybe two weeks ago, I started picking back up the clubs again. I was really, really pleased with the way I played today.”;
MERCEDES-BENZ CHAMPIONSHIP
Yesterday
At Kapalua Resort, The Plantation Course, par 73
Second Round
| Geoff Ogilvy | 67-68 | — | 135 |
| D.J. Trahan | 70-66 | — | 136 |
| Ernie Els | 68-69 | — | 137 |
| Anthony Kim | 71-68 | — | 139 |
| Sean O'Hair | 69-70 | — | 139 |
| Ryuji Imada | 69-70 | — | 139 |
| Davis Love III | 69-70 | — | 139 |
| Kenny Perry | 68-71 | — | 139 |
| Johnson Wagner | 68-71 | — | 139 |
| Adam Scott | 73-67 | — | 140 |
| Boo Weekley | 70-70 | — | 140 |
| Justin Leonard | 74-67 | — | 141 |
| Camilo Villegas | 74-67 | — | 141 |
| Stewart Cink | 74-67 | — | 141 |
| Brian Gay | 72-70 | — | 142 |
| Will MacKenzie | 72-70 | — | 142 |
| K.J. Choi | 71-71 | — | 142 |
| Carl Pettersson | 72-72 | — | 144 |
| Richard S. Johnson | 72-72 | — | 144 |
| Dustin Johnson | 72-72 | — | 144 |
| Steve Lowery | 69-75 | — | 144 |
| Chez Reavie | 75-70 | — | 145 |
| Greg Kraft | 72-73 | — | 145 |
| Parker McLachlin | 77-69 | — | 146 |
| Vijay Singh | 73-73 | — | 146 |
| Trevor Immelman | 72-74 | — | 146 |
| Zach Johnson | 71-75 | — | 146 |
| Daniel Chopra | 79-69 | — | 148 |
| Cameron Beckman | 76-73 | — | 149 |
| J.B. Holmes | 74-75 | — | 149 |
| Andres Romero | 78-74 | — | 152 |
| Marc Turnesa | 79-73 | — | 152 |
| Ryan Palmer | 78-75 | — | 153 |
