10/10/2008 - Madrid, Spain (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Charl Schwartzel fired a seven-under 64 and Marcus Fraser had a five-under 66 to share the second-round lead Friday at the Madrid Masters.
The duo was knotted at nine-under-par 133 for a two-shot lead over Robert Rock (65) and Steven Jeppesen (67) at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.
Stephen Gallacher (65), Paolo Terreni (65), Paul Waring (67), Carlos del Moral (67) and Santiago Luna (68) were another stroke further back at six-under 136.
Overall, 18 players stood within five shots of the co-leaders heading into the weekend at this inaugural event.
Schwartzel, a two-time European Tour winner from South Africa, posted a bogey- free round Friday despite suffering through a pair of ailments.
"I've got a shoulder problem and I'm feeling sick," said Schwartzel, who picked up his second victory at the 2007 Spanish Open.
He started on the back nine and made three consecutive birdies beginning at the 13th hole. Six straight pars followed before Schwartzel eagled the 518- yard fourth hole.
Birdies at the seventh and eighth holes gave him his 64.
Schwartzel, 24 and struggling to decide whether or not he could even play Friday, received some advice in a phone call to his father.
"[H]e told me to tee off and see how it goes. So I did that and then I got a couple of birdies and I started to feel better," said the younger Schwartzel.
"After that the sun came out and I didn't feel my shoulder so much. I'm on antibiotics and I don't feel that strong. But that was a very solid round of golf and I'm in a very good position."
Fraser, who went off at the same time as Schwartzel on the No. 1 tee, made three early birdies, but suffered through a stretch of three consecutive bogeys ending at No. 8.
The 2003 Russian Open champion bounced back with three straight birdies beginning at the 10th hole, then notched back-to-back birdies at the 14th and 15th to join Schwartzel in the lead.
The cut line fell at even-par 142 with 70 players making it to the weekend, including Bradley Dredge, Angel Cabrera, Miguel Angel Jimenez and Jose Maria Olazabal.
<< Bucs Seek to Beat, Join Panthers Atop NFC South
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Carolina Panthers haven't always lived up to
expectations over the past few years, but the team seems to have a knack for
rising to the occasion whenever the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are on the schedule.
Carolina aims for a s
<< Canucks sign Edler to four-year extension
Vancouver, BC (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Vancouver Canucks signed defenseman Alex
Edler to a four-year contract extension on Friday.
Entering his third season in the NHL, all with Vancouver, the 22-year-old has
nine goals and 14 assists along
<< Surprising Bears, Falcons, Square off at Georgia Dome
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Both the Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons entered this NFL
season seeking redemption, and each team appears well on its way to achieving
that goal so far. The two upstarts will attempt to build on their encouraging
starts wh
<< Jets Look to Make Their Move Against Bengals
(Sportsbook Betting Lines) - OK, Jets fans... the choice is yours.
To the glass-half-full crowd - citing a manageable deficit in the AFC East, a
convenient bye week of cramming for Brett Favre and the arrival of a winless
opponent on the tarmac at New
Ravens LB Lewis questionable for Sunday >>
Owings Mills, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was
back at practice Friday after missing Thursday's workout with a knee problem.
He is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Indianapolis.
Lewis has post
N.E. battling for home field; K.C. battling for playoff life >>
Kansas City, KA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The New England Revolution, who clinched
their spot in the Major League Soccer Cup playoffs for the seventh straight
year last week, look to hold onto home-field advantage for the first round
when t
TFC searching for another road win at Dallas >>
Frisco, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Toronto FC will try to keep its postseason hopes
alive Saturday at FC Dallas in a battle of bubble teams and, surprisingly, the
Canadian team's last two wins have been on the road.
TFC was one of the toughest
Rangers promote Jim Sundberg >>
Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Texas Rangers announced Friday that
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JUPITER, Fla. -- The Foorida Marlins are preparing for the likelihood that right-hander
Josh Johnson won't be ready when the season starts April 2.
Grapefruit League action starts Wednesday, but Johnson, penciled in as the No. 2 starter, hasn't even thrown off a mound at full speed since September. He's experienced some soreness in his right forearm.
MySportsbook.com have the Marlins listed with baseball betting lines at +800 to win the NL East this season .
''You guys know the math. If he's not on the hill then he becomes an opening day roster issue,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said Saturday. ''We're borderline now.''
Johnson, who finished 12-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 2007, was supposed to throw on flat ground Saturday. That was canceled when he woke up with pain.
He played catch on Wednesday with no pain but felt discomfort in a throwing session on Thursday. He's expected to try again Sunday.
''Like we always said from the very beginning, we're going to take it easy on him,'' Gonzalez said. ''He didn't feel right, so we shut him down. We're going to take it back to step one and see where we're at.''
Among the candidates to take Johnson's spot in the rotation are left-hander Chris George and right-handers Yusmeiro Petit and Jose Garcia.
Right-hander Sergio Mitre, who missed most of last season with arm and shoulder problems, also is behind.
With Johnson's status doubtful, Gonzalez said right-hander Ricky Nolasco will stay in the rotation and no longer will be considered a candidate for closer.
Additional basbeall odds can be found at: www.MySportsbook.com
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