Four share lead at challenging Doral

March 8, 2014: Wind played havoc in the second round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship? However, four players Patrick Reed, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar and Hunter Mahan share the lead at just 1 under.

And despite hitting three balls into the water, defending champion Tiger Woods found himself just six shots back heading into the weekend after a wild and windy day at Trump National Doral.

[highlight] I don’t think that we expected the golf course to be that hard that fast, but it kept getting quicker and quicker, said Woods [/highlight]

“I don’t think I’ve played in conditions this difficult in the U.S.,” said Graeme McDowell, who was one back, along with Francesco Molinari, Rory McIlroy and Jamie Donaldson, after a 71. “It’s an Open Championship day. It’s a real Friday afternoon at St. Andrews in 2010 before they called it. It was hard out there — really, really hard,” a PGA`report quoted.

So hard that 113 balls found the water in just the second round alone. That’s one-day total is more than any two rounds combined at Doral since this WGC moved to southern Florida in 2007.

Friday, 24 balls found the wet stuff on just the par-5 eighth, while another 17 splashed down on the par-4 third.

“Extreme,” said Bill Haas, describing the conditions in what was a perfect storm of a firm course, difficult setup and 20-30 mph winds. “It’s very penal.”

Added Reed: “It’s a tough golf course as it is. Almost felt like we were playing at a major today.”

Tiger made all efforts to stay around after recording what was his highest score in 44 rounds at Trump National Doral, a 76, he rebounded with a 73 in the second round.

“That was a tough golf course today,” Woods said. “I don’t think that we expected the golf course to be that hard that fast, but it kept getting quicker and quicker.

“It was right on the teetering point. Some of these pin locations were just — with the wind directions, it was just impossible to get the ball close.”

Tiger Woods holes 91-foot birdie putt for Shot of the Day.

It was the longest putt made by Woods in the Shot Link era, surpassing his previous best, a 70 foot, 4 inch effort during the second round of the 2007 TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola.

It was also a long day for Woods, who had to play 26 holes and said afterward his back was sore.

Adam Scott lies at 21 after carding one-over 148 (75-73 ) in first two rounds.

More players shot in the 80s (five) than broke par (three).

Source: PGA Tour