Woods shoots second 71 at BMW Championship

MEDINAH, Ill. – Tiger Woods didn’t get much going on the greens and shot 1-under 71 for the second straight day at the BMW Championship at Medinah No. 3.

Although he hit the ball better Friday, he took 30 putts to get around the course.

“I left quite a few shots out there,” he said after hitting 11 of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens. “I hit the ball a lot better today, which is great, and didn’t really make anything until what is it, 14, 15?”

In fact, Woods birdied both holes, but bogeyed 16 and 17 to give those shots back. He did the same on the front nine, twice following birdies (5, 7) with bogeys (6, 8).

Much of the concern in this second week of the FedExCup Playoffs was over his health after he withdrew from THE NORTHERN TRUST with a mild oblique strain. But that part has been fine, as Woods has toured Medinah relatively pain-free.

“I felt good, actually,” he said.

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The problem, he said, in addition to a balky putter, is that he’s not settled with the swing changes he’s been making since winning the Masters Tournament in April.

At 2-under-par for the tournament, Woods is 10 strokes behind Hideki Matsuyma, who shot a course-record 63 to take the 36-hole lead. Woods is 38th in the FedExCup and projected to need no worse than an 11th-place finish to break into the top 30 and make the TOUR Championship, where he notched his 80th PGA TOUR win last year.

After two lackluster rounds at Medinah, one of his favorites, he knew he faced a tall order.

“I’m going to have to have a great weekend,” Woods said, “and make a lot of birdies this week and post some rounds in the mid-60s to give myself a chance at it.”

Billy Horschel (73, even overall) and C.T. Pan (67, 6 under) were the other members of his group. Horschel is a past FedExCup champion, and Woods is the only player to win it twice.

Chicago is a Woods favorite. He won the 1999 and 2006 PGA Championships at Medinah, and five BMW Championships at nearby Cog Hill Golf & Country Club. He’s going to need to draw on all of that mojo this weekend if he wants to make it back to East Lake.

“My feel has not been where I want it,” he said. “Hit the ball pin high every time like I normally do. I certainly have not made many putts. Putt well and I’ll shoot good scores. I haven’t done that.”