May 8 -- After making the cut on the number Friday, 54-year-old Fred Funk notched six birdies and an eagle Saturday to shoot a 6-under 66 and climb to the front page of The Players Championship, at 8-over for the tourney.
On a day when prevailing winds helped firm up the fairways and greens (much, we’re sure, to Jerry Kelly’s delight), Funk was not the only guy going low. Masters champ Phil Mickelson was also 6-under through 13 holes, with nary a blemish on his six-birdie scorecard.
Far from the madding crowd. Mickelson began the day in a 3-under tie with Tiger Woods and a slew of other golfers but quickly made his move on moving day, with five birdies in his first nine holes to move to 9-under and just three off the lead at TPC Sawgrass.
The struggling Woods had his round essentially in neutral, at 4-under through 10, after carding three birdies and two bogeys in his outgoing nine.
Indigestion? Wonder how 36-round leader Lee Westwood (12-under) was enjoying his lunch, as he watched Mickelson and Funk creep up the scoreboard? Will Funk be able to pull a Rory McIlroy, who went from struggling to make the number to make the cut to winning last week's Quail Hollow Championship? Westwood would try to increase his lead when he teed off at 2:35 p.m. EDT.
Woods may not be making any noise Saturday, but at least he’s playing this weekend. Read how Westwood leads The Players and Woods escapes missing a second consecutive cut for the first time in his career.
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