Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Familiarity helps Woods, Wilson to top

Co-leader Mark Wilson tees off on the 12th hole Friday.  (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
From Staff and Wire Reports The Spokesman-Review
Tiger Woods and Mark Wilson, players who have every reason to feel right at home at Cog Hill in Lemont, Ill., tied for the lead Friday at the BMW Championship at 7-under-par 135. One practices here all the time. The other seems to win here all the time. Woods made two solid par saves from deep bunkers early in his round, ran off three straight birdies at the turn and cashed in on enough good shots for a 4-under 67 to put him atop the leaderboard for the first time since the PGA Championship. Woods is a four-time winner at Cog Hill, including his most recent appearance two years ago in the BMW Championship. Wilson, who birdied his final hole for a 5-under 66, moved to Chicago about five years ago and was looking for a place to practice when Frank Jemsek gave him carte blanche at Cog Hill. Wilson spends most of his time on this public golf course in the Chicago suburbs. •Gal takes lead with eagle: Sandra Gal’s eagle on the 18th hole gave her a one-shot lead after the first round of the P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship at Rogers, Ark. Gal shot a 7-under 64 in the LPGA Tour event, and her uphill putt from about 15 feet on the final hole moved her past Song-Hee Kim and into the lead. Kim is alone in second. Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., opened with a 69.