Bryant steadies game to co-lead

The season-ending event for the top 30 on the money list is wide open.
ATLANTA (AP) -- Bart Bryant raised both arms as his putt headed for the center of the cup Friday, giving him another eagle on the 15th hole at the Tour Championship.
But this celebration was different.
The short eagle putt in the first round carried him to the course record at East Lake.
This one allowed him to stop his slide, and kept him atop the leaderboard with defending champion Retief Goosen.
"It was more important than two shots," Bryant said.
Bryant saw a five-shot lead disappear in six holes as he struggled in the bunkers, but recovered with a 30-foot eagle putt for a 2-under 68 that left him tied with Goosen going into the weekend.
Goosen was surprisingly erratic, hitting only four fairways, but he managed to continue his mastery at East Lake with a 66 and gave himself a good chance at becoming the first repeat winner of the Tour Championship.
Scrambled
"I scrambled really well," Goosen said. "Four under is as good as I could have played today."
They were at 10-under 130 and were three shots clear of Ben Crane (65), Scott Verplank (66) and Tiger Woods, who had a 67 despite another day without a birdie on the par 5s, and another wild adventure on the 14th hole.
Woods, who found the short grass only three times, hooked his tee shot into a tent of concession supplies, including a few refrigerators for the ice. He got a free drop and made par, then salvaged a crucial par on the 17th after hitting his tee shot behind a tree and eventually making a 20-foot putt.
"Bart is playing beautifully and Goose is always steady, and it's going to be tough this weekend," Woods said.
Thanks to Bryant, the season-ending event for the top 30 on the money list is suddenly wide open.
With three birdies on his first seven holes, he built a five-shot lead and was on the verge of turning this All-Star game into a rout. But he started looking ahead, knowing that No. 8 was a good birdie opportunity, and No. 9 was a par 5. And before he knew it, Bryant was on the ropes.
"Then he got caught up in bunkers," Goosen said.
Recovery
Bryant went from bunker-to-bunker for his first bogey of the tournament, then hit his layup into the sand on No. 9 and had to settle for par.
"I started thinking about a 62 again," Bryant said. "I was able to right the ship at the end."
He had no idea he was leading by five shots. But as he walked off the 13th green, he couldn't help but notice the scoreboard in his group and showed 8-under for he and Goosen.
And a quick glance at the leaderboard showed Woods, Crane and Verplank closing fast.
"I just said, 'I'm tied for the lead at a great tournament,' " Bryant said. "All that matters is what I do from this point forward."
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