Els moved into an outright lead on day two

South Africa's Ernie Els has stretched his lead to three strokes on day two of the $5m Mercedes Championships in Hawaii.

The world number three had started the day level on nine-under par with American Jim Furyk but moved well clear of the chasing pack on 17-under following a round of 65.

Furyk, in contrast, struggled with a round of 72 and slipped to seventh place, seven strokes behind Els.

Els made a steady start to Friday's round before hitting top form on the par-five ninth with his only eagle of the round and his third of the tournament.

In an error-free display, the South African failed to drop a single shot and added a further six birdies.

Afterwards he said: "I felt like I was going to play well this week, come what may. I felt like I was striking the ball well in the practice rounds and was going to have a good week.

R1 LEADERBOARD

-17 Ernie Els -14 Bob Estes -12 KJ Choi -11 Retief Goosen, Jerry Kelly, Chris Riley -10 Ian Leggatt, Jim Furyk

Collated scores

"I was a little bit more aggressive than I was yesterday. I took a couple of more holes on, some of the par-fours."

American Bob Estes lies three strokes back in second after another bogey-free round of 66.

South Korea's KJ Choi, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour last year, had his second straight 67 and is another two shots back from Estes.

Els' countryman Retief Goosen holds a three-way tie for fourth with Jerry Kelly and Chris Riley.

Riley endured a mixed round at the Plantation Course, having moved to 13-under and, at the time, into the lead with an eagle on the ninth.

But his round fell apart when he carded a double bogey on the 15th and a bogey on the final hole.