Faldo is still a contender

David Smith13 April 2012

Nick Faldo, playing in his 62nd consecutive major at the age of 45, today proved he is still a serious contender by moving to within two shots of the lead in the US PGA Championship.

Faldo resumed the second round at one under par but swiftly moved to two under with a birdie three at the 460-yard par four first.

With overnight leaders Fred Funk and Jim Furyk of the United States among the late starters, Faldo had closed to within one of a clutch of players tied for second place.

Those players included England's Justin Rose plus Retief Goosen of South Africa and Mark Calcavecchia of the United States who both moved into contention after finishing their lightning-delayed first rounds early today.

Before teeing off, Faldo's playing partner John Daly revealed the story behind the seven-over-par 11 at the 16th that destroyed the American's hopes. He hit his tee-shot, a three wood, into marsh grass. The ball was lost so Daly had to return to the tee. This time he tried a two-iron but it didn't carry over the water.

Now hitting his fifth shot, Daly struck a three wood left and near a creek that runs along the left side of the fairway. "I was more or less in shock by that stage," he said.

With one foot in the water Daly hit a five iron near a grandstand where he claimed the ball came to rest against a tree root. When he tried to wedge an approach, the root deflected the ball over the green and Daly was back in the lake . After a penalty drop, he was playing his ninth. He rolled it across the green, almost chipped in coming back, then putted for an 11.

"Anything that could have gone, wrong went wrong," said Daly.

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