Pettersson plans to make most of Tiger's absence next week

RALEIGH, North Carolina, Aug 18 (Reuters) Tiger Woods's late withdrawal from next week's Barclays Classic came as no surprise to Swede Carl Pettersson, who plans to make the most of the world number one's absence.

Woods pulled out of the playoff event yesterday, saying he was fatigued after winning back-to-back titles at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the US PGA Championship in sapping heat.

''I'm kind of glad he's not playing next week,'' Pettersson told reporters after firing a five-under-par 67 yesterday's second round of the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina.

''After he won the PGA, I told my caddie: 'I bet he doesn't play the first event because he's got that big of a lead now.' ''I'm sure he will play the other three. It's a little unfortunate that he's not going to play next week but it will still be a great event. It gives us a better chance to move up.'' The Barclays Classic, being played in Harrison, New York, is the first of four lucrative playoff events that will crown the inaugural FedExCup champion.

FIELD CUT After the Barclays, the field will be cut to 120 for the following week at the Deutsche Bank Championship outside Boston before 70 players qualify for the Sept 6-9 BMW Championship near Chicago.

The playoffs end with the top 30 competing at the Sept 13-16 Tour Championship in Atlanta where a 10 million dollars bonus in deferred compensation will be earned by the overall champion.

Although Pettersson does not boast a good record at Forest Oaks Country Club, he is eager to build on opening scores of 66 and 67 and will go into Saturday's third round just one stroke off the pace.

''I'm off to a good start, which is good, but there is still a long way to go,'' the North Carolina resident said after three birdies in the last five holes earned him an 11-under total of 133.

''I'm halfway through this and I've just got to keep plugging away and see what happens.

''I think this is a good golf course but I just haven't played that great on it before,'' added Pettersson, a double winner on the PGA Tour.

''I don't know why. I've had a top 10 before, seventh or eighth place a couple years ago. But you know, some weeks you don't play good and some weeks you do.'' REUTERS BJR BST0940