WGC-American Express Championship Round Two: Another day, another record equalled by Tiger

Over so soon? 1.15 for Tiger Woods says it is, rain or no rain (and there’s some about Saturday as well). He’s in his special comfort zone and there’s seemingly no catching him.

For a while Friday it looked like he had slowed down, but that was illusory. He’d had similar difficulty with the same back nine holes the day before until yet again he eagled the 18th. What odds he does it four out of four?

The statistic that guides us today is that Tiger’s lead matches the competition’s 36-hole record - no prizes for guessing who’s it is - and his score of 127 is also the lowest half-way total in the tournament’s history. ‘Nuff said.

So if you want any more action over the weekend it’ll probably have to be the more exotic, and less flush, markets like the ‘winner without Woods’ where Jim Furyk is unsurprisingly the favourite (3.65 at the time of writing). That looks a modestly tempting lay until you remember that in this market you can be stymied by ties. Still, it could bring a spark of interest to an otherwise drab weekend.

Pity The Grove couldn’t put up a bit more of a fight. As The (London) Times declares on its sports pages today: Course that lacks bite leaves Woods short of a challenge. But look on the bright side: maybe now some money will swing Mississippi way for what may be an interesting final day there.