Golf roundup: Matt Kuchar rallies late to share BMW lead

LEMONT, Ill. — Matt Kuchar was feeling terrible and playing even worse. He managed to hold himself together long enough Friday to salvage a 1-over 72 and share the lead with Charlie Wi in the BMW Championship.

Kuchar made four bogeys through eight holes to tumble down the leaderboard, then rallied with five birdies over his last 10 holes to catch Wi, who played in the morning and shot a 69.

They were at 6-under 136 and had a one-shot lead over Marc Leishman of Australia, whose 65 was the best of the day on a Cog Hill course that was getting a steady stream of criticism.

Tiger Woods, the defending champion and a five-time winner at Cog Hill, was resigned to the fact that the greens were not pure. He didn't make very many putts, threw in a double bogey for the second straight day and shot a 72, leaving him in a tie for 40th, nine shots behind.

It was the first time Woods opened with consecutive rounds over par at Cog Hill since he was an 18-year-old amateur.

"I made nothing today," he said. "I hit the ball a hell of a lot better than my score indicates."

The only score that matters — along with the number on his card — is his rank in the FedEx Cup standings. Woods is No. 51 and needs to finish around fifth at Cog Hill week to qualify for the Tour Championship in two weeks.

Kuchar already has reservations at East Lake. He is No. 1 in the standings having won the playoff opener, and it doesn't hurt that he's tied for the lead going into the weekend.

How much longer he lasts remains the question.

Kuchar, who first thought he had laryngitis, isn't sure whether he has a viral or bacterial infection.

All he knows is that he barely had enough strength to stay upright in warm afternoon temperatures, much less concentrate on the shot at hand.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: At Incheon, South Korea, Fred Funk, Michael Allen and Jay Don Blake each shot 3-under 69s to share the first-round lead in the Songdo Championship, the Champions Tour's first tournament in Asia. John Cook and Sandy Lyle were a stroke back, and Bernhard Langer, a five time winner this year, opened with a 73.

LPGA TOUR: At Rogers, Ark., Morgan Pressel shot a 5-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the NW Arkansas Championship.