Immelman Leads a Masters Full of Surprises

Snedeker, Mickelson hot on his trail; Tiger sits seven back

By Mike Buss, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 11, 2008 9:45 PM CDT

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Immelman Leads a Masters Full of Surprises — Tiger Woods hits out of a bunker on the second hole during the second round of the 2008 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., Friday, April 11, 2008. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Trevor Immelman, who only four months ago was in a hospital in South Africa to recover from a benign tumor that doctors removed from his diaphragm, shot a second consecutive 4-under 68 to build a one-shot lead over Snedeker after two rounds of the Masters. Tiger Woods, at 1-under, needs a huge comeback to start a Grand Slam for 2008.

Only when the wind died late in the afternoon did Woods come to life. He stuffed his approach into 2 feet for a birdie on the 17th, then escaped with par on the final hole after driving into the trees. Even so, he was at 1-under 143 and seven shots out of the lead. Meanwhile, Phil Mickelson posted a 68 and is three back. (Read more Tiger Woods stories.)