SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Fred Couples double-bogeyed the opening hole Friday and then battled back to share the lead midway through the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
Mark Calcavecchia moved into position to challenge for the $1 million bonus prize that goes to the yearlong points champion.
Couples shot a 1-under 70 over the TPC-Harding Park course to finish 36 holes at 4-under 138. He was tied at the top with David Frost and Michael Allen, who both shot a 69.
Calcavecchia, Jay Don Blake, Bernhard Langer and Kenny Perry were all at 139. First-round co-leader Jay Haas was alone in eighth at 140 while Nick Price and Joey Sindelar were at 141.
Current points leader Tom Lehman was among those tied for 11th at 142.
Calcavecchia began this week 382 points behind Lehman in the race to determine the winner of a $1 million annuity. Calcavecchia will capture the prize with a victory this week as long as Lehman does not finish alone in second.
A second-place finish for Calcavecchia in the tournament would also bring him the $1 million prize as long as Lehman finishes in a two-way for 12th or worse.
The other three players still in contention for the Schwab Cup $1 million award -- Peter Senior, John Cook and Russ Cochran -- must win the tournament to have a chance at the big prize.
They were all 14th or worse in the standings after 36 holes.
