Europeans Garcia, Harrington within striking distance

2007-09-14

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By Andrew Both PA SportsTicker Golf Writer

ATLANTA (Ticker) - Tiger Woods stole the show in the secondround at the Tour Championship on Friday, but Europeans SergioGarcia and Padraig Harrington ended the day within strikingdistance.

Spaniard Garcia made a seven-foot birdie at the last hole tomove within five strokes of leader Woods, with Harringtonanother stroke back at East Lake.

"I played nicely all day, hit a lot of greens, gave myself a lotof opportunities and rolled it pretty good, even though Imissed one or two putts that maybe should have gone in butdidn't," Garcia said after a 6-under-par 64 that left him tiedfor sixth.

The highlight of his round was an eagle at the par-five 15th,where he hit his second shot to inside three feet.

Officially, Garcia hit only three fairways, but he said thatmost of his misses merely trickled into the first cut of rough,from where he still had a good chance to shoot at the pin.

"Funny enough, I felt like I drove the ball well," he continued."I executed well and hit a lot of tee shots that bouncedtoward the rough, into the first cut."

While Garcia improved his position, Open champion Harringtonregressed with a 70 on a day when only four players shot higher.

"I played pretty much the same as yesterday," said Harrington,who opened with a 63. "A couple of putts didn't drop but all inall I probably played a little better."

Justin Rose, the only other European in the 30-man field, carded71 to fall to equal 27th, a distant 13 strokes from the lead.

No European has won the Tour Championship since its inception in1987 and it will probably stay that way this year, consideringwho is leading, although Garcia and Harrington at least will gointo the weekend with an outside chance.