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Story highlights
Defending champion Tiger Woods in contention at Cadillac Championship
Woods is six shots off lead after second round 73
Four-way tie for lead at one-under par includes Dustin Johnson and Hunter Mahan
Rory McIlroy one shot behind on even par following second round 74
Tiger Woods endured mixed fortunes on a blustery day at the WGC Cadillac Championship at Trump National Doral’s Blue Monster course on Friday.
With winds gusting up to 30mph, the world No. 1 initially struggled to find his rhythm but finished six shots off the lead following a one-over par second round of 73.
The day hadn’t started so promisingly for the 14-time major champion as he completed his opening round following Thursday’s weather delays.
Woods resumed at two-over par but struggled for consistency from the off carding three bogeys, one double bogey, a par and three birdies in the remaining eight holes to finish with a four-over 76.
His second round got off to a better start with two birdies at the opening two holes before a run of five bogeys in nine holes threatened to all but end his title defense.
But Woods dug in and picked up two shots – which included sinking a monster 91-foot putt at the 4th (his 13th) – in the remaining six holes to leave him in tie for 25th place at five-over par alongside other big hitters like Phil Mickelson, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, South Africa’s Branden Grace and Englishman Ian Poulter.
Many of the 68-strong field struggled at the newly-configured course designed by Rio 2016 Olympics course designer, Gil Hanse.
Steve Stricker, runner-up to Woods in 2013, added a six-over par 78 to his opening round of 77 while South Africa’s Dawie van der Walt had a nightmare round of 83 after carding a disastrous opening round of 81.
England’s Luke Donald also toiled, finishing with a 10-over 82 while compatriot Lee Westwood limped to a 79 to leave them tied for 50th and 57th respectively.
At the other end of the field, there is a four-way tie for the lead with America’s Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Hunter Mahan and Matt Kuchar all on one-under par.
Johnson led for most of the second round before dropping three shots over the last six holes to finish with a 74.
First round leader Reed – who fired an opening round 68 – completed a three-over 75, while Kuchar and Mahan both shot 74.
One shot back is Italy’s Francesco Molinari (75) who is joined by his Ryder Cup teammates Graeme McDowell (71) and Rory McIlroy (74) and Jamie Donaldson from Wales whose two-under round of 70 was the best of the day.
America’s Bubba Watson and Zach Johnson are tied for ninth on plus one after rounds of 72 and 75 respectively.
Jason Dufner, Harris English and Brandt Snedeker are part of six-way tie for 11th on two-over while reigning Masters champion Adam Scott is also in contention – a second round 73 leaves the Australian on four-over par.
