Nissan Open

Howell hit six birdies

Charles Howell III climbed into a one shot lead after Friday's second round with a six-under-par 65 at the Riviera Country Club.

Howell, on eight-under 134, leads Zimbabwe's Nick Price with defending champion Len Mattiace a further shot behind.

Rich Beem, the winner of the 2002 PGA Championship, is alone in fourth on four under.

David Duval, first-round leader Fred Funk, Duffy Waldorf, Trinidad's Stephen Ames and Korea's K.J. Choi are on three-under 139.

World number one Tiger Woods vaulted into contention with a three-under 68 that leaves him in a tie for 10th on two-under 140.

Leading second-round scores (US unless stated) -8 Charles Howell III -7 Nick Price (Zim) -6 Len Mattiace -4 Rich Beem -3 David Duval, Fred Funk, Duffy Waldorf, Trinidad's Stephen Ames (Tri), KJ Choi (Kor)

But Colin Montgomerie, playing in his first tournament of the season, missed the cut after finishing at four-over par.

Howell did not realise he had passed Funk for the lead until he had finished his round.

He said: "I don't look at leaderboards anymore. I don't think anything good comes out of that."

Funk, winless since 1998, reached eight under for the tournament but then hit a disastrous four-hole stretch that began with the 12th.

By the time the 46-year-old Maryland native walked off the16th green, he had dropped five shots with three bogeys and a double bogey.

Howell, on the other hand, birdied the final two holes for his fifth and sixth birdies of the day.

He said: "I have a good feeling here. I hope it stays."

Malaysian Open

Retief Goosen raced to a two-stroke lead after a rain-hit second round of the Malaysian Open on Friday.

Leading second-round scores -12 under - Retief Goosen (Rsa) 11 under - Ted Oh (Kor) 10 under - Thammanoon Srirot (Tha), Padraig Harrington (Ire)

The South African carded a seven-under-par 64 to leap-frog over rival Padraig Harrington.

The Dubliner is almost back to his best and will be ready for another battle royal with Goosen for top European honours this season.

But it was overnight leader Arjun Atwal who was on course to reclaim top spot in Malaysia before torrential rain halted play.

Despite setting the early pace, Goosen said he was frustrated with his performance on the Mines Resort course.

He dropped two strokes over his inward nine and was disappointed to have birdied only one of the four par fives.

"It turned out to be a disappointing round," said the Order of Merit holder.

"After getting off to a great start with 29, a 64 was the worst score I could have shot."

"If I can put the two together it would be a different story."

I'm very pleased to be back in contention Ireland's Padraig Harrington

India's Atwal was leading the chase and he holed four birdies over the first seven holes to move one ahead of Goosen.

His comeback was interrupted by the humid conditions in Kuala Lumpur which sparked an electrical storm.

European Ryder Cup team-mates Lee Westwood and Paul McGinley both lie six under par.