Chicago-based Donald received huge support from the galleries

R2 LEADERBOARD:
US unless stated
-8 H Stenson (Swe), B Andrade, L Donald (Eng), T Herron
-7 D Love III, T Woods, G Ogilvy (Aus)
-6 C Riley, D Toms, F Funk, B Mayfair
-5 S Micheel, D Chopra (Swe), S Garcia (Spa), S Stricker, T Clark (SA), M Weir (Can)Selected others:
-4 I Poulter (Eng), P Mickelson
-3 E Els (SA), L Westwood (Eng)
-2 D Howell (Eng)

England's Luke Donald is in a four-way tie for the lead at the halfway stage at Medinah, but Tiger Woods is ominously placed just a shot behind.

Donald, 28, carded his second straight 68 to join Sweden's Henrik Stenson and American Billy Andrade in the lead on eight under.

The trio were later joined on that score by American Tim Herron.

But Woods, who outplayed rival Phil Mickelson, then closed the gap to one with a huge birdie putt at the last.

Interview: Luke Donald

Donald's links to the area - he lives in nearby Chicago and attended the city's Northwestern University - ensured he was given vocal support every step of the way.

I didn't really do anything special today Tiger Woods

And after a bogey-free second round - played in wet and gloomy conditions - he is excellently placed to end Europe's seven-year barren run in golf's major championships and its 76-year drought in this event.

"It was pretty hot and humid and it got dark quickly in the last few holes," said Donald, who is ranked 11th in the world.

"It was tough to judge the distance and even to see if the fairway was clear ahead of us. They were not the easiest conditions.

"I think I've got to the stage in my career right now where I should be competing and having a chance to win majors."

Donald, of course, is not carrying European hopes here on his own as the broad-shouldered Stenson took full advantage of the better conditions on Friday morning to set the early pace.

The 30-year-old also signed for a 68 and at that stage was one shot ahead of 1997 USPGA champion Davis Love III and two clear of playing partner Chris Riley, the overnight co-leader.

Love, who bogeyed his second, third and fourth holes before recovering to card a 69, was later joined on seven under by Open champion Woods and his playing partner Geoff Ogilvy, the US Open winner.

Stenson is set to be a key figure in Europe's Ryder Cup team

Mickelson, the third member of that 2006 major champions group, birdied the last to put a gloss on what had been a scrappy display.

The Masters champion and world number two finished four off the lead and three behind Woods.

For his part, the world number one was also far from his best but once again demonstrated his unrivalled ability to plot his way around a course.

"I didn't really do anything special today," said Woods, who had four birdies, two on each nine, in a bogey-free round.

Daniel Chopra, another Swede with an early tee time, carded a 67 that took him to five under, the same score as South African Tim Clark, Spain's Sergio Garcia, Canadian Mike Weir and American duo Shaun Micheel and Steve Stricker.

One shot better than that group are four Americans - Riley, Fred Funk, Billy Mayfair and 2001 USPGA champion David Toms.

Stenson started his round with birdies at the 1st and 2nd, and then took the outright lead on seven under with his third birdie of the day at the 9th.

He then birdied the 11th and 13th to stretch his lead to three but gave one back with a bogey at the 15th.

The world number 17, who won the third European Tour title of his career in Qatar in January, then returned to nine under at the 17th only to give the shot back with a bogey at the last.

It was a rough start, but I came back nicely and my putting is getting there Sergio Garcia

Stenson is now almost certain of a place in Europe's Ryder Cup team at the K Club in September and his return to form after a slump will delight captain Ian Woosnam.

"If you are in form early there's a chance you can lose it," said Stenson, who started the year-long qualification on fire but has been without a top-10 finish since April.

"I've not been playing great the last couple of months, but it feels like it's moving in the right direction.

"Overall, I'm very happy. I'm in an awfully good position."

Garcia, USPGA runner-up at Medinah as a 19-year-old in 1999, did well to recover from a triple-bogey at the 11th, his second, to card a two-under 70.

The triple-bogey came when the world number nine missed the green, chipped over it and then chipped back into a bunker.

"It was a huge mistake and a rough start, but I came back nicely and my putting is getting there," said Garcia, who played with Woods in the last group at the Open last month only to struggle badly on the greens.

The round of the day, however, belonged to Olin Browne - a six-under 66.