GOLF / U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP : Woods Shoots 66, Qualifies for Match Play

Tiger Woods took his father’s advice Wednesday at the U.S. Amateur Championship.

Woods, a Western High School junior, followed his first-round 78 at Muirfield Village Golf Club with a six-under-par 66--the lowest round of the day at the more-forgiving Country Club at Muirfield Village.

His even-par total was four shots below the qualifying figure for the match-play portion, which starts today.

Georgia Tech senior David Duval was low qualifier at eight-under 136. His 67 was the low round of the day at Muirfield Village. Two-time champion Jay Sigel of Berwyn, Pa., made the match-play field for the 20th consecutive year.

Defending champion Mitch Voges of Simi Valley missed qualifying by 14 shots. He shot 89 for a 162 total. Chris Tidland of Placentia (75 75--150) and Mark Sear of Newport Beach (84 79--163) also failed to advance.

Tiger’s father, Earl Woods, said the poor first round helped motivate his son.

“Tiger was frustrated and angry after (Tuesday’s) round,” Earl said. “I told him not to get mad, get even.”

Despite back spasms that started before his round, Tiger Woods, who began at No. 10, was five-under-par on the back nine.

“This morning when I woke up it was just a little sore,” Woods said. “It didn’t bother me when I was hitting the ball, but when I started bending over and putting, it started to hurt.”

Woods eagled the 512-yard 13th hole and birdied 11, 12 and 17. He had seven consecutive pars on the front nine, then birdied the eighth. He finished with a par on the ninth.

“I turned my birdie switch off after the first nine,” Woods said. “When I was five-under I just wanted to make pars. I had pain bending over to putt, which reinforced that.”

Woods knew he needed a low score Wednesday to qualify.

“I thought I had to shoot at least a 69 to get in,” he said. “I was a little more focused. It helped me concentrate, knowing I had to shoot a low number to get in.”

Woods, 16, said his plans for the weekend include a U.S. Amateur championship. “I think I can (win) if I play like I did today,” he said.

The sore back shouldn’t be a problem, Woods said.

“It’ll go away,” he said, “teen-agers heal quick.”