CHAMPIONS

• Langer, Tim Simpson on top at Tradition

  
  

  Bend, OR (Sports Network) - Bernhard Langer bogeyed two of the last three holes Friday to fall into a share of the lead after two rounds of The Tradition.

  Langer's late bogeys capped a round of six-under 66. He completed two rounds at 10-under-par 134 as did Tim Simpson, who posted a five-under 67 in the second round. Simpson was one of seven leaders after the opening round of the season's fourth major.

  Fred Funk also posted a 66 to move into a share of third place at minus-nine. He was joined there by Senior PGA Champion Jay Haas (68) and Mike Goodes (67).

  Tom Watson carded a course-record, eight-under 64 in the second round at Crosswater Golf Club at Sunriver Resort. He climbed into sixth place at eight- under-par 136.

  His 64 broke the old mark of 65 that David Edwards set last year.

  Langer got off to a quick start with three consecutive birdies from the par- five second. He stumbled to a bogey on the par-five sixth, but recovered that lost stroke with an eight-foot birdie putt on the eighth.

  The three-time winner on the Champions Tour rolled in a six-foot birdie putt on 10, then drained a long birdie effort on 11 to get within one of the lead at minus-nine.

  Langer grabbed a share of the lead with a 10-foot birdie putt at the 12th. He rolled in a birdie effort from off the green at the 13th. That capped a run of four straight birdies that got him the lead at minus-11.

  At the par-four 15th, Langer's approach stopped a foot from the hole and he kicked that in for birdie. He gave that stroke right back with a bogey on 16.

  Langer's second went over the green at the par-four 18th. He chipped to about 20 feet and two-putted for bogey that dropped him into a share of the lead after two rounds.

  Simpson opened with a birdie on the first and collected his second birdie at the par-four fourth. He poured in back-to-back birdies from the seventh to move to minus-nine.

  However, Simpson slid backwards as he bogeyed Nos. 9 and 11. He got one stroke back with a seven-foot birdie putt at the par-five 12th.

  Simpson moved back to minus-nine with a hole-out birdie on the 15th. His drive hit a tree, so he laid up to 88 yards and holed the shot for birdie. He carded his final birdie on the par-three 17th.

  "I have hit the ball incredibly well over the last two days," Simpson said. "I don't think I've missed but three greens all week and two of the three were on the fringe. I missed 11 today and that led to bogey." At the 11th, Simpson started having back problems that forced him out of his last start at the U.S. Senior Open. His problems at the U.S. Senior Open were on the left side of his ribs and today's problems were on his right side.

  "My back went out on 11 after I hit my drive and our fantastic trainers met me on 12," Simpson explained. "We went over behind the 13th tee and they were popping me. I felt better and was able to get in." Hale Irwin posted a three-under 69 and is tied for seventh at seven-under-par 137.

  He was joined there by Gene Jones and Mark Wiebe, who both shared the first-round lead and shot 70 on Friday.

  Irwin can join Jack Nicklaus in exclusive company with a win this week. Irwin would match Nicklaus in the all-time lead in Champions Tour majors with eight and the two would be the only two players to win four different majors on the elder circuit.

  Eduardo Romero, who won the U.S. Senior Open two weeks ago, fired a seven- under 65 to jump into a share of 13th at five-under-par 139. Meanwhile, Bruce Vaughan, the Senior British Open champion, is tied for 25th place at minus- three after shooting 70 in the second round.

  08/15 22:35:12 ET