Woods’ Streak in Jeopardy

Tiger Woods’ drive for five at the Bay Hill Invitational took a major detour Friday.

Trying to become the first player in history to win the same tournament five years in a row, Woods was out of bounds and in the trees at Orlando, Fla., on his way to a two-over-par 74, which left him nine shots behind Shigeki Maruyama and needing to match his greatest 36-hole comeback to keep the streak alive.

“I just need to play well and put myself in position where I can give it a run on Sunday,” Woods said. “If the leaders play well, hats off to them. I just need to take care of my own business.”

As surprising as it was to see Woods so far down the leaderboard, it was equally stunning to see Maruyama at the top.

In 10 previous rounds at Bay Hill, the Japanese star had never broken 70. Despite a three-putt bogey to end his round, Maruyama shot a second consecutive 66, giving him a two-shot lead over Darren Clarke, Chad Campbell and Stuart Appleby.

Maruyama was asked if he was the guy to end Woods’ streak at Bay Hill.

“Very difficult question,” he said with a smile. “Maybe eight shots from Tiger Woods after the third round, I would have a good chance.”

Clarke had a chance to share the lead when he had a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole, but he three-putted for bogey. It took him a while to cool off, but Clarke saw the big picture.

“I’m only two shots back going into the weekend, which is not bad,” he said.

Woods flared a three-wood out-of-bounds by about 6 inches on No. 11, leading to a double bogey. He hit into the trees on No. 15 and had to pitch out sideways, leading to another bogey.

“I tried to battle back,” Woods said. “I didn’t hit it quite good enough to put myself in position to make putts, and when I did it, I missed.”

Host Arnold Palmer shot a 79 and said it would be his final round in the event.

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Annika Sorenstam is in the lead in her first LPGA Tour start of the year, already exhibiting the skills that have made her the best female golfer in the world. And 14-year-old Michelle Wie’s 67 showed why so many believe she is the heir apparent.

Sorenstam shot a methodical seven-under 65 in the second round to take a one-stroke lead halfway through the Safeway International at Superstition Mountain, Ariz.

She was at 12-under 132, just ahead of Cristie Kerr, who matched her career best with a 63.

Defending champion Se Ri Pak (68) was three back at 135. First-round leader Kim Saiki shot a 73 to drop five shots back at 137.

Wie, who made eight birdies, is seven back at 139.

“I’m playing really good,” said Sorenstam, the ANZ Masters winner three weeks ago in Australia in her only other tournament of the year.