Sluman, Byrd tied for Chrysler lead

Jeff Sluman and Jonathan Byrd were tied for the lead at the Chrysler Championship, both knowing the tournament really doesn’t start until the weekend.

For Paul Azinger, Olin Browne and a host of others, their season ended Friday.

Sluman was eight shots worse than his course-record 62 in the opening round, missing a half-dozen good looks at birdie but still playing solidly from tee to green for a 1-under-par 70. Byrd blitzed the back nine for the second consecutive day and shot another 66.

“Some days it’s easy, and some days it’s a little more difficult,” said Sluman, who never had the lead to himself in the second round and wound up tied with Byrd at 10-under 132.

In the final, full-field tournament of the year, perhaps it was no surprise that the top five guys already have their cards locked up for next year, with no worries about where they are on the money list.

Vijay Singh, moving closer to a $10 million year, had a 69 and was two shots behind. Also at 8-under 134 was International winner Rod Pampling (65) and Tommy Armour III (64), exempt through 2005 for his record-setting victory last year in the Texas Open.

“You certainly shouldn’t be surprised to see Vijay up there,” Sluman said of the No. 1 player in golf who is going for his sixth victory in his last eight starts.

The real shock was Azinger, one of several players who had their bubbles burst at Innisbrook.

Azinger is No. 123 on the money list and opened with a 75. He played hard and got to 1 under, seemingly safe to make the cut at even par. But he missed the green on the par-3 8th, his 17th hole, and took a bogey.

He ripped a good drive on 9, but his 8-iron to 40 feet left him a difficult putt that swung sharply to the right. Azinger hit that some 12 feet by, and he missed the par putt for a 68 to miss the cut by one shot.

Azinger walked briskly out of the scoring trailer and screamed in disgust.

“You hate to see that,” said Sluman, who played with Azinger. “I’m sure he’ll beat himself up over that.”

Browne, No. 125 on the money list, shot a 77 and must wait two days to see if anyone passes him.

Kent Jones (No. 124) had an even-par 71 and was at 135. Instead of worrying about keeping a job, he can think about winning his first tournament. Also at 135 were former Pullman resident Kirk Triplett (71), Vaughn Taylor (65) and Jesper Parnevik (67).

LPGA

Carin Koch and Grace Park each shot a 6-under 66 and shared the first-round lead at the CJ Nine Bridges Classic in Jeju, South Korea.

Jill McGill and Karen Stupples are one shot back after 5-under 67s.

Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa was another stroke back after a 68 that included a hole-in-one on the par-3 13th.

Top-ranked Annika Sorenstam finished at 1-under 71.

European tour

Sergio Garcia recovered from a poor start and survived a rules scare, closing the second round with two birdies for a 2-under 69 and a one-stroke lead in the Volvo Masters in Sotogrande, Spain.

Garcia feared he might be disqualified for playing a provisional ball on the 196-yard third hole at Valderrama, not realizing his original tee shot was found in the trees.

Chief referee John Paramor reviewed what happened for 30 minutes after the round before letting the score stand.

Garcia would have been penalized two shots for playing the wrong ball if he continued to use the provisional, but Paramor said none of the 500 spectators around the green told Garcia his original tee shot had been found.

Garcia’s two birdies at the end put him at 6-under 136, one shot clear of Alastair Forsyth (69). Ian Poulter had a 67 for a 137.