Woods has won the last three Buick Invitationals at Torrey Pines

SECOND ROUND LEADERBOARD
(US unless stated):
-12 T Woods
-8 K Steelman
-7 S Cink
Selected others:
-5 S Appleby (Aus)
-4 K Ferrie (Eng)
-3 V Singh (Fij)
-1 P Mickelson

Tiger Woods shrugged off a second day of wayward driving to take a four-shot lead at the Buick Invitational tournament on Friday.

The world number one's seven-under-par round of 65 at Torrey Pines left him on 12 under, four ahead of Kevin Streelman who birdied the last for a 69.

Stewart Cink was a further stroke back at seven under, with a three-way tie for fourth place.

"When I tried to steer it, it wasn't good. I over-shaped them," said Woods.

Two off the pace overnight, the five-time champion forged clear after piling up seven birdies in a bogey-free display on the North Course.

That left Woods on a 132 aggregate, ahead of American rookie Streelman with Cink carding a matching 69, both on the South Course.

606: DEBATE If Tiger says he was bad, he should caddy for me, and I'll show him proper bad driving safcnorfofborder

Australian Aaron Baddeley birdied two of his last four holes for a 67 on the North Course to share fourth place at six under with Americans Boo Weekley (66) and rookie Brad Adamonis (72).

"It was the same thing as the previous, low left and high right," Woods said after finding only six fairways out of 14 from the tee.

"I've got to get that organised but my iron game was good and I made a bunch of putts, which can sometimes be a pretty tricky task out there."

Woods rolled in birdie putts from 15 and 10 feet at the 16th and 18th to reach the turn in three-under 33.

He picked up another shot at the par-five first where he pitched up to four feet before reeling off further birdies at the second and fourth to stretch his lead to three.

After parring the next four holes in bright sunshine, Woods signed off with another birdie at the par-five ninth where he coolly sank an eight-footer.