THOUSAND OAKS, California, (Reuters) – Tiger Woods gave himself extra reason to smile after stretching his lead to a commanding four shots in the second round of the Chevron World Challenge yesterday.
Hunting his first victory of a year he has described as “very painful” on and off the course, Woods displayed good form from tee to green on the way to a flawless six-under-par 66 at Sherwood Country Club.
One ahead overnight after opening with a sparkling 65 in his own tournament, the four-times champion mixed four birdies with an eagle three at the second to post a 13-under total of 131. For the second straight day in a row, Woods mastered the five par-fives on the scenic layout framed by the Santa Monica Mountains, covering those holes in five under to tighten his grip.
“I didn’t hit the ball quite as sharp today but I putted a little bit better,” Woods said in a greenside interview after putting himself in good position to win for the first time since the 2009 Australian Masters. “All in all, it evens out. “You’ve got to take care of the par fives here and I’ve done that for the first two days. I’ve got to continue doing that.”
U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell carded a 68 to lie second at nine under, one ahead of fellow Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy (70) and Englishman Luke Donald (66).
Britain’s Paul Casey was alone at six under after recording an ace at the par-three 12th en route to a bogey-free 65.
Former world number one Woods has struggled on and off the course since his private life unravelled at the end of last season amid sordid revelations of serial philandering.
He took a five-month break from the game in an ultimately unsuccessful bid to repair his marriage and embarked on the fourth swing change of his career in August.
