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Sluman Still In The Lead
By Dave Weissman

Jeff Sluman played steady golf carding a 1-under par 71 for the day in the second round of the Memorial Tournament and holding onto a one shot ahead of a group including three-time Memorial champion Tiger Woods and Harrison Frazer who both carded scores of 4-under par for the day.

Woods had a good round of golf firing a 5-under par to move into second place tied with four others. "It's kind of nice playing on the weekend," Woods said with a laugh. He broke his streak of 141 consecutive cuts made a few weeks ago at the Byron Nelson in Dallas.

The forecast called for clouds and rain, but the sun stayed out most of the day. It tempted many of the players to try to keep in the fairway, but many ended a decent round with a hiccup on the 18th hole which has seemed to provide drama in the scoring chase.

Peter Lonard made a strong run blazing 4-under par for the front nine, but as this course has done to many golfers this week, the back nine was no picnic. He briefly led after an eagle on 11, but faded fast after bogeys on 12 and 16 and a double-bogey on the final hole to leave him tied for 12th place, three shots back.

Jeff Sluman, yesterday’s leader at -7, had a steady day, ending with 8-under par. Even after his round, Sluman felt his game needed some work, especially on the green where he had 29 putts versus the 24 in the first round. “I’ve just got to hit the ball a little closer from the fairway,” he said. “I’ll grab something (to eat) and go out on the range and work on it.”

Another of the best rounds of the day belonged to Fred Couples. His 5-under par was made through birdies on seven holes and two bogeys. He would birdie the stretch of 4,5 and 6, and is currently tied for seventh, two shots back of the leader.

Tournament host and fan favorite Jack Nicklaus was unable to make the cut after posting a 5-over par 77. It was an emotional round for Nicklaus as this tournament will be his last competitive round on U.S. soil. He gave a wave and a kiss goodbye to the throng of fans lining the 18th fairway and green. “It will probably close out my golf in the United States in regular tournament golf, more than likely," Nicklaus said. "I may come back here, but I certainly wouldn't plan on it."

"I try when I'm out there to play golf," he said. "That's what these people came in here to see. They came to see Jack Nicklaus play golf. And I wanted them to see me -- not what I did today."

He did, however, leave the door open slightly by stating, “"I just can't stand finishing with a 77." Always the competitor.

Among those failing to make the cut were Ben Curtis (+11), John Daly (+3), Bernhard Langer (+4) Davis Love III (+7) and former Memorial Vijay Singh (+7) who carded a 74 to go with yesterday’s 77. Upon leaving the 18th green area, he took time out to sign one autograph for a fan, but abruptly threw the autographed program back to the fan.