Tiger assumes halfway lead

Woods: one-shot lead

Second round leaderboard:
(US unless stated)
T Woods -10
R Pampling (Aus) -9
A Kim -8
J Furyk -7

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Tiger Woods moved ominously into the lead at the halfway stage of the AT&T National following a second round of 66 at Congressional Country Club.

The world number one, tournament host for this PGA Tour event which benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation, ended the second day on ten-under-par - one clear of closest challenger, Australian Rod Pampling.

Woods managed a total of five birdies and one bogey in a round that started at the tenth tee, but insisted he was not entirely happy with his efforts despite assuming the championship lead.

"I didn't drive the ball as well as I did yesterday or hit my irons as crisp," he stated afterwards.

"Either I hit it pretty close to the hole, within 10 feet, or I was missing greens. So it was a little bit of two ends today.

"It was nice to actually get a score out of it. I didn't shoot myself in the foot and had a stretch there from basically 17 through three where I didn't really hit the ball all that well but somehow was able to get through it and keep the momentum of the round going."

The world number one added that he hoped his battling effort on Friday could prove the gritty round that helps set up victory come Sunday.

"Even the tournaments where I've gone pretty low, there's always that one day where you didn't really feel as good as the others," he explained.

Weird

"But sometimes those days you actually may score lower. It's just weird how that, today I hit the ball a little bit scratchy at times, but I putted better.

"I felt better with the putter today, hit a lot of good putts, easy tap-ins or I was making them.

"The game is kind of weird that way. Yesterday I didn't really miss a shot, and I shot six under, but today even though I was at four under, it could have been just a little bit lower, I guess."

Pampling matched the 64 Woods produced on Thursday to move into second place on his own, recording a total of seven birdies and just a single bogey - which came at the par-four sixth.

The Australian is one clear of overnight leader Anthony Kim who had to settle for a level-par 70 after his explosive opening 64, mixing three birdies and three bogeys.

Jim Furyk carded a solid 67 to move into fourth on his own at seven-under, while a group of three players - Bryce Molder (70), D.A Points (70) and Sweden's Daniel Chopra (68) - sit at six-under.

England's Justin Rose followed his opening 67 with a 71 to drop back to two-under, while compatriot Paul Casey missed the cut altogether despite a second round of 69, finishing at four-over after 36 holes.