MELBOURNE, Australia - In wind strong enough to blow sand out of the bunkers, Tiger Woods squeezed his eyes shut as he tried to clear his vision.
That was the least of his problems Friday in the Australian Masters.
He found himself going back to his old swing to help cope with the blustery conditions at Victoria Golf Club, and he turned in a performance that fans around the world are used to seeing this year.
One day after a promising round, Woods began a slow slide down the leader board. Woods shot a 1-over 72 in the second round and was nine shots behind Adam Bland, who carded a 4-under 67.
Bland was at 10-under 132 and had a two-shot lead over Andre Stolz (67), who won in Las Vegas six years ago.
Woods was at 1-under 141, tied with Camilo Villegas, who shot a 70.
People are also reading…
LPGA Tour
GUADALAJARA, Mexico - U.S. Women's Open champion Paula Creamer shot a 6-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead over Suzann Pettersen in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational.
Creamer birdied two of the final three holes to reach 10 under at the Guadalajara Country Club. Pettersen had a 65, matching Meena Lee for the best round of the day.
Stacy Lewis (69) was third at 8 under, and Lee was another stroke back along with Ai Miyazato (69), Azahara Muñoz (67), Karine Icher (70), In-Kyung Kim (68) and Katherine Hull (69).
Ochoa followed her opening 74 with a 71 on her home course, leaving her 26th at 1 over in her first LPGA Tour event since retiring in April.
PGA Tour
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Roland Thatcher, needing at least a solo second-place finish to secure full PGA Tour playing status for next year, shot a 9-under 63 to take a four-shot lead over Chris Stroud and Brian Gay in the Children's Miracle Network Classic.
Thatcher began the event 179th on the money list. He had a 16-under 128 total.
Stroud, 119th on the money list, shot a 70, and Gay, safe at 59th, had a 65.
The top 125 on the money list will earn full status next year.
European Tour
SINGAPORE - Two-time winner Adam Scott shot his second straight 6-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead over defending champ Ian Poulter in the Singapore Open.
Masters champion Phil Mickelson was six behind after a 69.
Poulter followed his opening 69 with a 63 to reach 10 under. U.S. Open champ Graeme McDowell (68) was 9 under along with Fredrik Andersson Hed (65) and Kang Kyung-nam (67).

