FARMINGTON, Pa. (AP) – Their Ryder Cup experience was so miserable, the magnitude of the United States’ loss to Europe so great, Tiger Woods and Kenny Perry decided to pull out of the 84 Lumber Classic,

Chris DiMarco didn’t, and now he’s in contention to win the tournament. DiMarco shook off the disappointment he has felt since last weekend to shoot Friday’s best round, a 7-under 65, and put some pressure on leader Vijay Singh, who followed up his opening-round 64 with a steady-as-he-goes 68. Singh leads 2003 British Open champion Ben Curtis by two shots with DiMarco another stroke back.

Singh actually had a bogey – his only one in two days -but opened with two straight birdies and added three more during a round that could have been even better if he hadn’t missed several short putts.

DiMarco might have withdrawn, as Woods and Perry did, if he hadn’t promised four close friends weeks ago he would take them to next weekend’s World Golf Championship event in Ireland for free. Joe Hardy, 84 Lumber’s fabulously wealthy owner, offered any golfer a free trip for five if he played.

“Mr. Hardy made an unbelievable deal,” DiMarco said. “But the Ryder Cup was exhausting. … Wednesday, I was out of it and Thursday it was still on my mind and I probably wasn’t ready, but getting a good night’s sleep really helped today. I hit a lot of solid shots and gave myself a lot of chances.”

The other two U.S. Ryder Cup members both made the cut, with David Toms at 3 under, nine off the lead, and Stewart Cink at 2 under.

Curtis, all but invisible since his being one of the most surprising major winners ever at the 2003 British Open, has had consecutive 67s – a much-welcomed start for a golfer who has missed the cut in five straight tournaments and seven of 11.

He has only one top 10 finish since the British Open, leading after two rounds of the Memorial before finishing eighth.

“It’s going to be a long weekend,” he said. “I haven’t played 72 holes in a long time.”

He played well Friday despite wearing Cleveland Browns colors – the bright orange shirt was a giveaway – in Pittsburgh Steelers country. He realizes he might not want to try that over the weekend, when the crowds figure to be larger.

“Hopefully, by this weekend, I will have some Steelers stuff,” he said.

Singh is five shots up on Kent Jones, Joey Sindelar and J.P. Hayes, who are tied at 7 under. Sindelar and Hayes both had 69s Friday and Jones followed up a 69 with a 68, only the second time in 16 tournaments he has had consecutive rounds in the 60s.

AP-ES-09-24-04 2039EDT