Seeking his first tournament title since 1998, Lee Janzen figures a new putting stroke will give him a shot.
The two-time U.S. Open champion shot an 8-under-par 64 yesterday and trailed leader Brett Wetterich by one shot after two rounds at the Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Wetterich, an 11-year pro who couldn't recall leading a tournament before, shot his second successive 66 for a 12-under total of 132.
Janzen has spent plenty of time on a leader board but endured a long putting slump.
"It got to the point where it ruined the rest of my game," he said. "I had no confidence in my putting. There were a lot of bad rounds on Saturdays and Sundays when I was in contention."
After changing his grip, stance and putter, Janzen figures this weekend might be different. He surged into contention by making five putts of 15 to 35 feet.
"You become impatient to win again," he said. "It has been very frustrating. But I haven't given up hope."
Wetterich, relegated to the Nationwide Tour in 2003-04, rejoined the PGA Tour in January and survived a cut for the first time this year two weeks ago at Tucson. His best career finish was an eighth-place tie at the Honda in 2002.
"I look back and see how bad I was for a while," said Wetterich, who lives 10 minutes from the tournament site. "It's nice to be able to look back and see how far I've come since I first turned professional."
Wetterich played the first 36 holes without a bogey and averaged 293 yards off the tee, the best in the field. He overtook first-round leader Chad Campbell, who bogeyed two of the final four holes, shot 71 and was third at 9 under.
Tied with Campbell was Robert Damron, who shot 65. Nick Watney shot 68 for the second day in a row and was alone at 8 under.
Vijay Singh, whose six-month reign at No. 1 ended when Tiger Woods supplanted him last week, shot 69 and was 4 under.
• EUROPEAN TOUR: Richard Green of Australia shot a 4-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead over Swedish golfers Pierre Fulke and Robert Karlsson after the second round of the Qatar Masters in Doha.
Ernie Els, the only top-50 ranked player in the field, bounced back with a 69 after opening with a 73. Els is seven strokes off the lead.
Green leads the way with a two-round total of 9-under 135. Fulke shot a 70 and Karlsson carded a 67. Thai golfer Thaworn Wiratchant shot a 68 and was another stroke behind.
"You can never write Ernie off," Green said. "I wouldn't mind betting he puts together a 6-under or something like that tomorrow."
