Paul Azinger, once again a shot out of the lead, will take precautions to prevent a repeat performance of his day-late disqualification of a week ago.
So will the PGA Tour."I'm just happy to be playing," Azinger said Friday after moving within a stroke of co-leaders Dan Halldorson, Steve Pate and John Huston at the halfway point of the Honda Classic.
It was a wry, tongue-in-cheek and slightly bitter reference to his misfortunes in the Doral Open a week ago when a telephone call from a television viewer resulted in Azinger's ouster from the tournament.
Then, as now, he appeared to be one stroke behind the leader.
Before he signs his card following today's third round, Azinger will ask a tour official to review television film of his play.
"I won't sign my card until he says everything is OK," Azinger said. "I'm not kidding."
But it really won't be necessary.
As a result of Azinger's disqualification, PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman ordered a rules official to monitor the telecasts with an eye toward catching any infractions immediately.
This practice, in effect for the first time in pro golf, will continue until the next regular meeting of the policy board on June 4.
At that time, Beman said in a statement released from tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra, Fla., the board will "formally review the application of a disqualification penalty as a result of a prior round's breach of the rules."
It's all a result of the incident at Doral, when a television viewer saw Azinger indvertently move a couple of rocks when taking a stance in a hazard, a violation of the rule that calls for a two-shot penalty.
Azinger, unaware he had committed an infraction, signed a card that did not include the penalty.
The viewer didn't call until a day later, however. At that point, Azinger was guilty of signing an incorrect scorecard, a breach that calls for disqualification.
"After what happened to me, I'm pleased I wasn't trying to force anything, just let things happen," Azinger said after a 5-under-par 67 in the second round put him at 135 after 36 holes.
He said he has put the Doral incident behind him, but admitted to some lingering after-effects.
"I'm unbelievably gun-shy," he said. "I'm scared to death, scared to death I'll do something stupid. I'm paranoid."
Huston, whose only tour victory came in this event a year ago, Halldorson and Pate shared the lead at 134, 10 under on the TPC at Eagle Trace.
Huston and Pate, whose last victory came three years ago, shot second-round 65s. Halldorson, a Canadian, had five birdies and an eagle-3 on the way to a second consecutive 67.
Greg Norman and Mike Sullivan were tied with Azinger at 135. Each had a second-round 66.
They were followed by John Daly, Brad Faxon and Dave Barr at 136. Barr, another Canadian, shot 66 while Daly and Faxon carded 68s.