Francesco Molinari and Tiger Woods in contention at Quicken Loans National
Saturday 30 June 2018 21:33, UK
Francesco Molinari continued his sparkling run of form as a second-round 65 left him just one-shot off the lead at the halfway stage of the Quicken Loans National.
Molinari, making his first start since the US Open, trails the American trio of Beau Hossler, Ryan Armour and Brian Gay, while Tiger Woods made a significant move up the leaderboard as he also fired a 65 to sit four shots off the pace at TPC Potomac.
Rising star Hossler was first into the clubhouse on nine under after he produced a storming finish to his second round, making four birdies over the last five holes to return a 66.
Playing partners Armour and Gay later made it a three-way tie at the top, with Armour keeping a bogey off his card in his 65 while Gay went one shot better after making a flying start with five birdies over his first seven holes.
Molinari opted to play at Avenel Farm in Maryland instead of the European Tour's Open de France as he currently lies a precarious 123rd in the FedExCup standings, and he looks set to vastly improve his ranking after completing 36 holes with just one bogey.
The in-form Italian, winner of the BMW PGA Championship before finishing runner-up a week later on home soil, cruised to the turn in 33 before further birdies at 10, 13 and 14 lifted him into a share of fourth on eight under.
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Molinari was soon joined by Billy Horshel, who was in a share of the lead until he dropped his second shot of the day following a wayward drive at the 18th and handed in a two-under 68.
Kevin Streelman propelled himself 82 places up the leaderboard with a superb 62 in which he covered the back nine in just 29 strokes, including an eagle at the driveable par-four 14th where he drilled his tee shot to 10 feet and converted the chance for a two.
Streelman's effort elevated him to six under, while Woods is one further behind after finding his range with his new putter and rolling in seven chances for birdie while blotting his card twice.
The tournament host raised the roof when he chipped in for an unlikely three at the 18th - his ninth - and he made three birdies in four holes on the front nine before two sublime sand saves at eight and nine kept him at five under.
Rickie Fowler also hit back from a frustrating first-round 70 as he capped a 66 with birdies at his final two holes, while Ireland's Seamus Power went the opposite route and tagged a 70 onto his opening 66.
But there was disappointment for Scotland's Martin Laird after a late bogey saw him card a 72 as he slipped to two over, one shot too many to make the weekend.
