Miyazaki, Japan - Two-time defending champion Tiger Woods
fired a five-under 65 Friday to take a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the
Dunlop Phoenix.
Woods completed 36 holes at eight-under-par 132. He leads 2006 European Tour
Order of Merit winner Padraig Harrington by one shot.
Harrington posted a 66 to move to seven-under-par 133, where he is alone in
second place. Ian Poulter used a six-under 64 to climb into third place at
minus-six.
First-round leader Shingo Katayama managed just an even-par 70 and is alone in
fourth at five-under-par 135. Justin Rose moved back into contention after
struggling to a three-over 73 in round one. He responded with a seven-under 63
Friday to climb into fifth at minus-four.
Woods got his round going with a birdie on the first. He gave that shot back
with a bogey on the par-three third at Phoenix Country Club.
The world's No. 1 player responded with an eagle on the fourth to get to
minus-five. Woods converted a birdie try on the eighth.
Around the turn, Woods birdied the 11th and 13th to move to eight-under. He
tripped to a bogey on the 16th, but atoned for that error with a two-putt
birdie at the par-five closing hole.
Harrington was steady over his opening nine with seven pars and two birdies.
On the back nine, he faltered to a bogey on the 11th.
The Irishman recovered that lost stroke with a birdie on No. 13. Harrington
collected birdies at 16 and 18 to finish within one stroke of Woods' lead.
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (72), Scott Laycock (68) and Satoru Hirota (71)
share sixth place at two-under-par 138. Nine players including -- Keiichiro
Fukabori and Toshi Izawa -- are tied for ninth place at minus-one.
© 2006 The Sports Network
USA
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