South African Retief Goosen moved a step closer to his first PGA Tour victory of the year by grabbing an early one-shot lead in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational second round Friday. While world No. 1 Tiger Woods again battled with his driving, Goosen was in good form off the tee and with his putter as he fired a four-under-par 66 in rain-softened conditions at Firestone Country Club. The smooth-swinging South African recorded six birdies and two bogeys for a seven-under total of 133, finishing one ahead of American Justin Leonard (66). “I'm happy with the round,” the 41-year-old Goosen said after totalling 26 putts and missing only three fairways off the tee. “I've not done so well around this course in the past, so it's nice to play well for two rounds and see how I can do on the weekend.” Swede Peter Hanson (66) and American Bo Van Pelt (68) were a further stroke back while Australian Adam Scott (70) and Britain's Paul Casey (68) were among a group of five bunched at four under. Woods, champion here last year and seeking a record eighth victory at Firestone, hit only three of 14 fairways on the way to a 72 that left him a distant 13 shots off the pace. The 14-times major winner, who has not triumphed on the PGA Tour since last year's BMW Championship, left the course without speaking to reporters after he had signed his card. Goosen, in an upbeat mood after flourishing on a tight, tree-lined layout where he has not previously enjoyed much success, said his sole regret was a bogey five at the last where he followed a perfect drive with a poor approach. “I just had an eight-iron to the green and pulled it, then hit a poor chip and a good putt that didn't go in,” he said. Goosen has not won on the PGA Tour since last year's Tampa Bay Championship but has produced good form this season with seven top-10s in 13 starts. “I've been playing quite consistent ... I've just not been winning,” he said. American left-hander Bubba Watson, who took the first round lead after opening with a 64, and world number two Phil Mickelson were among the late starters Friday. Sabbatini, Uresti share lead Rory Sabbatini and Omar Uresti have retained their one-shot lead at the Turning Stone Resort Championship. Both shot 7-under 65s in Thursday's rain-delayed first round and lead Brad Faxon, Brian Davis, Steve Elkington, Alex Cejka, and Chris Tidland by one stroke. Because of a weather delay of nearly three hours, 24 players did not complete the first round. Among those who completed the first round on Friday morning were Tidland and Steve Wheatcroft, who remained at 5 under and tied with John Mallinger, Chris Couch, Jonathan Byrd, Michael Bradley, Jason Dufner and Tim Wilkinson. Westwood withdraws Just as he was closing in on No. 1 in the world and possibly his first major, Lee Westwood of England withdrew from the US PGA Championship Friday with an injury that even puts the Ryder Cup in doubt. Westwood, a runner-up at the Masters and the British Open this year, suffered a calf injury at the French Open in the first week in July. It has caused problems with swelling in his right ankle, and it reached a breaking point on Friday.
