Tryon’s Hanging Around, Barely

In his debut as the youngest rookie in PGA Tour history, 17-year-old Ty Tryon already reached one of his goals.

“I made it to the weekend,” he said.

True, but only because it was too dark to finish his second round in the Phoenix Open at Scottsdale, Ariz., on Friday.

Unless he makes eagle on his final three holes when he returns Saturday--that would be more amazing than earning his PGA Tour card despite having two years of high school remaining--Tryon’s first tournament of the year will end most unceremoniously.

On a day when Duffy Waldorf holed some long putts to take the lead and John Daly sent the raucous crowds into a frenzy, the teen-ager sputtered along and remained at six-over for the tournament when play was suspended by darkness.

“A great experience,” Tryon said. “I felt a lot more comfortable with the crowds.”

Not many watched Waldorf, and they missed him chipping in for birdie from 25 feet, holing two long birdie putts and also a 35-footer for eagle. It added up to his second straight six-under 65, putting him at 130 at the halfway point.

He had a one-stroke lead over Vijay Singh (65) and Rory Sabbatini (64).

Chris DiMarco (64) and Skip Kendall (66) were at 132.

Daly was another stroke back after a 65, but he was the easiest guy to find on the TPC of Scottsdale. Just look for the mammoth crowds, which Daly didn’t disappoint.

He birdied his first three holes and was two strokes off the lead and facing a 50-foot eagle putt. That’s where the momentum slowed.

He three-putted for par, then walked through the tunnel to the 16th arena to the chants of “Da-lee! Da-lee!” His nine-iron from 171 yards landed past the hole and went over the green and he made a nice par save.

“Whether they were drinking or they were sober, they were pulling for me,” he said. “I like it when it gets a little rowdy. I feed off that.”

Daly is No. 50 in the world ranking and needs to stay there for seven more weeks to make the Masters, so a good start to the year is important.

Waldorf is also eager to start strong, for no other reason than last year was his worst on the PGA Tour in 11 years--only one top 10 finish, and 120th on the money list.

“I felt like I needed to improve my short game and chipping and putting,” Waldorf said. “I’ve been trying to be a little more aggressive around the greens.”

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U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen conquered blustery afternoon winds to take a one-shot lead after the second round of the Johnnie Walker Classic at Perth, Australia.

Goosen was the only golfer to conquer the winds, shooting a four-under 68 to move to six-under 138 in the joint European, Australasian and Asian PGA tours event.

Goosen, from South Africa, moved as high as eight-under before two late bogeys.

Goosen’s effort was tempered by withdrawals by Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie with a back injury, and Australia’s Aaron Baddeley with tonsillitis.

Montgomerie could be sidelined for several weeks or longer.

First-round leader Thong Chai Jaidee shot an even-par 72 to be at five-under, one stroke back of Goosen.

Sergio Garcia of Spain and Pierre Fulke of Sweden were at two-under par.