Golf Events / Editor / 24 March 2007 /

European players will go into the weekend with high hopes of maintaining their 100 percent record in World Golf Championship tournaments this season, but if they are to do so they must first overcome the ominous figure of Tiger Woods.

Henrik Stenson claimed the opening WGC event of 2007 with his victory over defending champion Geoff Ogilvy at the Accenture Match Play last month and is again in contention for the top honours in Florida.

Thomas Bjorn, Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Niclas Fasth and Padraig Harrington also harbour ambitions to figure in the final shake-up on Sunday as they lie handily placed at the halfway stage, but they will have to get past the world number one to do so.

Woods, who has won this event five times and four times in the last five years, lies two shots clear of the field after two rounds on seven-under-par. Australian Rod Pampling is on -5 with Stenson, Bjorn, Ernie Els, Trevor Immelman, Charles Howell III, Aaron Baddeley and Zach Johnson a further stroke back.

Woods began the week trading around 3.6 to win in Florida, but is now an overwhelming favourite at 1.66 to claim his 13th World Championship title in 24 attempts.

Els is next best at 14 with Stenson available to back at 23 to win, ahead of Immelman (30), FedExCup leader Howell III (32) and Pampling and his Australian compatriot Baddeley (both 36).

Garcia, who is trading at 44 to win, is within four shots of the lead on three-under together with Vijay Singh (42 to win), Geoff Ogilvy (50) and Robert Allenby (65), and they look likely to have plenty of followers over the weekend.

Poulter is also on a similar mark and, having finished tied for second behind Woods at the last WGC strokeplay tournament at The Grove last September, appears attractively priced at 140 to win and 9 to finish in the first five.

But the player they will all have to catch first is Woods, who has an outstanding record at WGC events, when leading on the PGA Tour and, importantly, on Doral's Blue Monster course where the tournament is being played.

Woods has lost just six out of 32 tournaments on the PGA Tour when leading at the 36-hole stage and is 51-under-par for his last ten rounds at Doral - where he has won the last two events held.

After a disappointing finish last weekend, the American looked still to be striving to find his best form after an opening round 71 left him four shots back of first round leaders Stenson and Allenby.

But an hour spent on the practice putting green after the first day proved time well spent for Woods as he returned a second round 66 - the best of the week so far - to take an early grip on proceedings.

Woods needed just 26 putts on Friday compared to 32 the day before, his round featured six birdies and no bogeys and he showed his desire to succeed is still as strong as ever by holing two ten-foot putts for par on the ninth and 18th holes. He is likely to be a tough man to beat.

But the world number one's faltering display last weekend will have given his nearest pursuers hope that they can overhaul him - despite history looking to be against them.

Pampling, who is paired with Woods on Saturday and available at 3.9 to come in the first five, will not be fazed by the extra hype that comes with playing with him as he is a regular partner on practice days.

Els has made secret of his renewed desire to overtake Woods as the world's best player within the next three years and has adjusted quickly to his new Callaway clubs.

The South African has been content to go about his business with the minimum of fuss over the first two days, but it would be no surprise to see him emerge as a main challenger for honours.

Els is 2.7 to finish in the first five but is available to back at attractive odds of 6 to beat the field without Woods, ahead of Stenson (6.6), Baddeley (9), Howell III (9.4) and Immelman and Garcia (12.5).

Immelman is one of the game's most improved players over the last 12 months and it would be foolish to rule him out, while there is more than enough evidence over the first two days to suggest the tournament is by no means a one-horse race.

Stenson, favourite to emerge as top European this week at 2.76, was two shots clear after ten holes of the second round, only to slip back by bogeying the final two holes.

Garcia also had trouble at the difficult 18th hole, running up a double-bogey six but the Spaniard is playing well enough to have a say in final affairs on Sunday.

Bjorn is only three shots adrift of Woods, despite four-putting from 45 feet in his second round. The Dane, 6.6 to come in the top five, looks to be in the mood for success this week and may also be a good bet at 2.34 to beat Johnson in their Saturday two-ball.

Fasth, two strokes further back, is playing at the top of his confidence at present and looks well-priced at 310 to win and 14 to finish in the top five.

The likes of Padraig Harrington, Jim Furyk - both on one-under-par and trading around 130 - and Luke Donald (310 to win and 16 to place in the first five) can also not be totally discounted.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>