Tiger Woods stormed to the top of the Australian Open leaderboard after shooting a five-under 67 in Sydney.
Former world number one in pole position at The Lakes
Tiger Woods stormed to the top of the Australian Open leaderboard at the halfway mark after shooting a five-under 67 in the second round at the Lakes Golf Club in Sydney.
The former world number one, who had posted a 68 on day one, kicked off his round with a birdie at the 10th and then added four birdies in six holes from the 13th.
He made his first bogey of the tournament at the third but responded by holing a 25-foot birdie putt at the fourth before slipping up again at the sixth.
The American bounced back again with a birdie at the eighth following a stunning 280-yard approach to move to nine-under 135.
Australian Peter O'Malley (66) is one shot behind on eight under with Jason Day (68) third on seven under. Overnight leader Jarrod Lyle is back on five under after a 74.
Didn't miss a shot
"I played well today," said Woods. "I could have been a little lower over my first nine holes. I felt like I really didn't miss a shot. Even though I shot five under today, it felt like it easily could have been eight or nine deep.
"It feels good, but it feels good to actually be there playing properly instead of slashing the ball all over the place."
Tiger's two playing partners - Day and Robert Allenby - were certainly impressed with what they've seen of the 14-time major winner over the first two days.
"He wasn't playing that great a couple of months ago but he's certainly turned it around," said Day, who could well emerge as Woods' biggest challenger over the weekend.
"Tiger's known for shoving stuff down people's throats, he's certainly doing that now and he's doing a really good job."
"I like the way he's playing. ...everything is starting to patch together."
Allenby, who surprisingly missed the cut, also liked what he saw.
"Probably in the last six months, that's the best I've seen him play," Allenby said. "I've seen him at his absolute best ... that was a different human being. He's on his way back, that's for sure.
"I think where he is right now is good enough to win. I think you'll find if he keeps going the way he is going, he'll win over the weekend."
Woods is one of eight American Presidents Cup players taking part here although that was reduced to seven before the second round started when Hunter Mahan withdrew suffering from a shoulder injury.
Several, including skipper Fred Couples, are poised for a weekend challenge.
Bubba Watson is just two shots back after firing seven birdies in a two-under 70 while Nick Watney is tied fifth, four behind, following a one-over 73.
Dustin Johnson's hopes took a wobble on day two as he returned a three-over 75 to drop from tied second to tied 11th. That left him alongside Couples who was round in 74.
Opposing captain Greg Norman is also into the weekend after a 74 left him at one over and in a tie for 39th.
