The Tribune

DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer

RYDER Cup winning golfer Dustin Johnson was not expecting to be in the Bahamas for the Hero World Challenge this week but is making the most of being at the Albany course, being tied for the lead after two days with Hideki Matsuyama.

Johnson ran off three straight birdies early in his round, moved into contention with an eagle and closed with a fearless drive down the middle of the water-lined 18th fairway that set up a birdie for a 66. Matsuyama, of Japan, had the lead to himself until a bogey from the bunker on the par-three 17th. He shot a 67 to tie Johnson at 12-under 132. They were two shots ahead of Louis Oosthuizen and Matt Kuchar, who each shot 67.

Six shots behind the leaders was tournament host Tiger Woods, who shot a seven-under par 65 as he makes his return to competition after a 15-month injury layoff.

Asked if he was more surprised to be tied with Johnson or six shots ahead of Woods, Matsuyama smiled “I’m happy for both,” he said. “Tiger has been my idol since I was little. It’s great to have him back. I know he can win again.”

No one knows winning like Matsuyama over the last few months. He has three victories in his last four starts around the world - the other was a runner-up finish in Malaysia - which includes his first World Golf Championship title at the HSBC Champions.

Johnson had been scheduled to play an exhibition against Rory McIlroy in the Philippines on Tuesday, and while he thought about a trip halfway around the world to get to the Bahamas on time, he was resigned to sitting this one out. But he never withdrew in case the exhibition fell through - and it did.

In only his second tournament since the Ryder Cup, Johnson had most parts of his game in working order. “I haven’t put in much practice, but starting now, I’ll be kind of getting ready for next year,” he said. “I didn’t lose much, I guess.”

Defending champion Bubba Watson shot the lowest round of the tournament so far with a 63 that left him three shots behind.

J B Holmes, who opened with a 64, was leading when he pulled his tee shot on the par-three 12th into the water. He tried to play the partially submerged ball but it came back into the water. The next shot barely got onto the green, and he took a double bogey. Then, he drove wildly into the dunes on the 18th, had to play back to the fairway and eventually three-putted for a triple bogey. That gave him a 73, and he was five shots behind.

Jordan Spieth, coming off a victory in the Australian Open two weeks ago, was at nine under and thinking about a birdie on the 18th with a 30-foot putt. He missed a four-foot putt for par, missed the next one and walked off with a four-putt double bogey. That gave him a 69, and he was also five behind.

Woods made two super par saves, from next to a bush on the par-three eighth and with a 25-foot putt on the 16th. He was practically flawless for a seven-hole stretch in the middle of his round and tied for ninth. Plus, it took just under three hours. Woods was playing on his own as Albany resident Justin Rose withdrew with back problems on Friday morning.

DOUG FERGUSON

Associated Press