 Woods is looking to match 'Jumbo' Ozaki's three straight wins |
R2 LEADERBOARD
(Jpn unless stated):
-8 T Woods (US)
-7 P Harrington (Ire)
-6 I Poulter (Eng)
Selected others:
-4 J Rose (Eng)
+4 T Bjorn (Den)
+6 D Howell (Eng)
World number one Tiger Woods fired a five-under-par 65 to take a one-shot lead after the second round of the Dunlop Phoenix event in Japan.
Woods, who is chasing a third straight win in Miyazaki, is on eight under with Ireland's Padraig Harrington just one stroke behind after a 66.
Ian Poulter carded a 64 to reach six under while Justin Rose is two shots further back after a stunning 63.
David Howell had a one-under 69 but is way off the pace on six over.
Woods began the day two behind Japan's Shingo Katayama but after a birdie at the first, he took the outright lead with an eagle at the 557-yard fourth which came when he sunk a 25-foot chip-and-run.
The American had further birdies on the 8th, 11th and 13th although he did drop a shot at 16 which left him with a share of the lead after Harrington birdied the final hole.
 | The more you play with Tiger, the easier it gets |
But the 12-time major winner sunk a six-foot birdie putt at the last to reclaim the lead.
"I'm very happy to shoot 65," he said. "To have that lead is awfully nice, some of the guys really went low.
"Paddy (Harrington) is playing well. It's going to be a very interesting weekend, especially with the weather coming in.
"It is supposed to be rainy, cool and breezy so it's going to be a tough weekend for all of us."
Harrington, who claimed the European Order of Merit title this year, was helped by three birdies in the last six holes and is looking forward to his battle with Woods.
"Seven under par is very good, now there are 36 holes to go," he said.
"I'll keep plodding along and see what happens.
"The more you play with Tiger, the easier it gets. If you're playing with him every week it means you're playing good golf."
Rose's round was the best of the day and lifted him up the leaderboard after a 73 left him on three over after the opening round.
Overnight leader Katayama fell away slightly after an even-par 70, leaving him as the highest-placed Japanese player in fourth at five under par.
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