ESPN.com - Golf Online - PGA Championship 2000 - Funk's birdies just keep him even

By David Kraft
ESPN Golf Online
Friday, August 18

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Fred Funk birdied the eighth and ninth holes Friday in the second round of the PGA Championship. It got him to 7-under par.


	Two closing birdies put Fred Funk within shouting distance of the lead.

Tiger Woods, playing three groups behind him, was at 8-under.

Three hours later, Funk birdied the 17th and 18th holes -- the 18th with a beautiful half-wedge and an 8-foot putt. That got him back to 7-under. But by this time, Woods was 11-under and firmly in control of the championship.

As Funk walked behind the 18th green, greeted by his wife Sharon, 9-year-old son Eric and 4-year-old daughter Taylor, this was the fate that awaited him: If you aren't moving forward, you're losing ground to Woods.

It's the same for Scott Dunlap. And J.P. Hayes. And Bob May. And Stuart Appleby. And Thomas Bjorn. And David Toms. And the rest of the players chasing Woods.

Of the top 10 names on the leaderboard chasing Woods, only Davis Love III has won a major championship. That leaves a whole lot of players searching for a major title and having to go through Woods to get it.

"I don't think we are scared of Tiger," Funk said. "We are amazed at Tiger."

Funk is typical. Now 44, Funk has five PGA Tour victories and has earned $1 million twice in a season. But he's struggled this year -- his best finish was a seventh in the Bob Hope Classic.

That was in January. Since June, he's finished better than 50th just once while missing four cuts.

He came to the PGA having tied for 50th at the John Deere Classic. But got a putting lesson from Dave Pelz earlier in the week and shot 68 on Thursday. He shot 32 on the front nine Friday and challenged for the lead. Bogeys at the 15th and 16th moved him back. Two straight birdies just got his head back above water.

"I'm just trying to do my best to turn my year around," said Funk. "I'm finally getting a little confidence in my putter."

As Funk surveyed his wedge into the 18th, he walked to the edge of the green. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted Eric. Standing in the middle of the green, with thousands looking on, Funk stopped, winked and waved.

Eric waved back.

Funk went back into the fairway and played it to perfection.

"I'd love to play with him sometime this weekend," the light-hitting Funk said, referring to Woods. "I'd love to show everybody the long and short of it.

"I don't have the power that Tiger has," he sighed. "Not a lot of guys out here do."