After a great outing on Thursday, World No 1 Tiger's on-field struggles continue in New Jersey
After a great outing on Thursday, World No 1 Tiger's on-field struggles continue in New JerseyTiger Woods was unable to build on his first-round lead at The Barclays, slipping back on Friday with a second round that left him four adrift of halfway leader Jason Day.
Nine players had at least a share of the lead over the course of the round until Australia's Day made a late charge.
He was one shot in front of Kevin Streelman and Vaughn Taylor. Streelman carded a 63 and Taylor, who shared the overnight lead with Woods, a 70 for 135.
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| Tiger Woods in a pensive mood during the second round of The Barclays in New Jersey on Friday. PIC/AFP |
Woods, meanwhile, missed a two-foot putt for one of his four bogeys over his final eight holes at Ridgewood Country Club as he settled for a two-over 73 for four-under 138.
The world number one was still in the hunt in the first of the US PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoff tournaments, although he will have to make up ground.
Woods is at least assured of remaining world number one for another week. Phil Mickelson, who again had a chance to overtake Woods, missed the cut and departed without discussing his round.
Woods had created a stir on Thursday when he fired a six-under 65 to seize a share of the first-round lead alongside Vaughn Taylor.
The round was his lowest since a sex scandal erupted around him last November and came three days after Woods's divorce from Elin Nordegren was finalized.
Woods entered the tournament ranked 112th in FedEx Cup points and needing to reach the top 100 to qualify for next week's event in Boston.
A victory would see him jump to the top of the list, and he must finish at least 57th to advance. Woods seemed confident a victory remained within reach.
"You play around here and post good numbers, you'll move up the board," he said. "The guys aren't going to be tearing this place apart."
Woods, who started at the 10th tee, birdied two of his first nine holes, hitting his approach at 18 to five feet for birdie.
But his struggles began at No 1, where he hit 40 feet long from 93 yards out. His first putt was six feet short and he made that for par, but things didn't get any better.
Facing a difficult chip at the par-three second, Woods had started his swing when a photographer clicked prematurely.
"Not in my swing," Woods pleaded as he made contact with the ball, which sailed 25 feet long en route to a bogey. At the 291-yard fifth putted from the fringe to two feetu00a0-- then missed the par putt.
