Quartet Now Sets Pace at Quicken Loans National; Tiger Misses Cut


Two Aussies and a pair of Americans share the 36-hole lead in the Quicken Loans National. The $6.5 million Tour event, which benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation, got underway Thursday at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.

Marc Leishman and rookie Oliver Goss carded 5-under 66s to jump to 6-under 136, the same total as California's Ricky Barnes (69) and Texan Patrick Reed (68).

Leishman, a 30-year-old who won the 2012 Travelers Championship, carded five birdies Friday. Goss, a 20-year-old Perth native playing in only his second PGA Tour event, also had five birdies.

Barnes, a 33-year-old Tour veteran still in search of his first Tour title, had five birdies and three bogeys. Reed got off to a great start this season with victories in January's Humana Challenge and in March in the WGC-Cadillac Championship. On Thursday the 23-year-old recorded six birdies, a bogey and a double on the par-4 11th hole (his second of the day after starting play on the 10th tee).

Leishman believes his 66 is the product of recent improved play. "I've been hitting the ball pretty well for the last few months," Leishman said of his round. "Had a bit of a lean patch earlier in the week, but turning things around and feeling good over the ball. Try and keep this going, and see what happens on the weekend."

As for Goss, he's feeling his way as a young tour professional and is entering uncharted territory. "I didn't really have too many expectations," said Goss, who finished as the runner-up in the 2013 U.S. Amateur to England's Matthew Fitzpatrick, who also recently turned pro.

"Missing the cut last week (in the Travelers Championship) I was a little disappointed, but coming into this week pretty appreciative and open-minded. That I'm atop the leaderboard, I couldn't be more pleased."

Lurking a stroke behind the leaders are American Hudson Swafford (68) and Aussie Stuart Allenby (67). Two back are Sweden's Freddie Jacobson (71) and Americans Morgan Hoffman (68), Billy Horschel (68) and George McNeill (69).

Three out of the lead are 2013 U.S. Open champion Justin Rose of England, who fired Friday's low round of 6-under 65, and Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge (68). Rose won the tournament in 2010.

Eight players - including defending champion Bill Haas - are tied for 13th at 2-under, while another six stand at 1-under 141. The latter group includes the National's inaugural winner, 2007 champion K.J. Choi of South Korea.

Erik Compton is also at 1-under. The 34-year-old, double heart-transplant recipient needs a high finish this week as only the leading four non-exempt players who finish in the top 12 at Congressional (and at next week's Greenbrier Classic, which he isn't slated to play) will earn a spot in the Open Championship July 17-20.

After beginning with a promising 66 to take the 18-hole lead, Australian left-hander Greg Chalmers skied to a 7-over 78 to drop into a tie for 50th at 2-over 144.

The 36-hole cut was set at 3-over 145. Woods, the event's only two-time winner, carded rounds of 75 and 75, missing the cut by four strokes. He was playing in his first tournament since undergoing back surgery March 31. Over two days, the 11-time PGA Tour Player of the Year posted 12 bogeys, a double and seven birdies to end up at 7-over 149.

Despite not qualifying for the final two rounds, Woods was generally pleased with his first tournament in three months. "I made a ton of simple mistakes," he told reporters, "missing on the wrong side. These are things I can correct."

As for his rehabilitated back, Woods said he suffered no ill effects after 36 holes of competitive golf. "Thing I was worried the most was hitting the driver. For the most part, I did really well."

But his accuracy wasn't as spot-on as usual for a player with 79 Tour victories and 14 major titles. "(Caddie) Joey (LaCava) and I said I was a yard off here and there . . . but not to have any setbacks at all, that was nice."

Woods will now take the next two weeks off in preparation for the British Open at Royal Liverpool - where he won the most recent of his three claret jugs in 2006. "I'm really encouraged with what I was able to do this week."

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.