Shot of the day lifts Woods one ahead of Els

HOYLAKE, England, July 21 (Reuters) A magical eagle two at the 14th hole helped champion Tiger Woods fire a course record-tying 65 to and finish one stroke clear of Ernie Els in the British Open second round today.

South African Els, without a victory for seven months, matched Woods's seven-under-par effort on a revamped Hoylake layout to climb into second place on 11-under 133 and set up a possible classic head-to-head with the world number one on Saturday.

American Chris DiMarco also carded a 65 to finish on 135, one ahead of Els's fellow countryman Retief Goosen (66) on another calm and sunny day.

The highlight of the round was the eagle at the tough 14th by early starter Woods.

The world number one launched a four-iron approach shot 201 yards over the corner of the dogleg and reacted with amazement after the ball had bounced five times before striking the bottom of the flagstick and dropping into the cup.

When he reached the green, he picked the ball out of the hole and lifted it high above his head to the resounding cheers of the crowd.

''It is a hole where you are just trying to make a four and get out of there,'' Woods told reporters. ''A two was a huge bonus.

''I couldn't see the flag, I just tried to hold it against the wind and hit it flush. I wasn't trying to put the ball in the hole, I was just trying to get it on the green.'' The 30-year-old had dropped a shot on the third but roared back to birdie the fourth, fifth and eighth.

The 10-times major winner, playing in only his third tournament since the death of his father Earl on May 3, also made inroads on par at the 10th, 11th and 16th.

Despite his low score, Woods said the pin positions were tougher than they had been on day one.

''There were some difficult pins out there today,'' he said.

''There were a couple of times when you thought you could possibly putt the ball off the green.

''They did a pretty good job setting up the pins and making them a little more testing than they did yesterday.'' Els, starting much later in the day, did not drop a stroke all day as he rediscovered the form that took him to the title at Muirfield in 2002.

He followed three birdies on the front nine with four more coming home to close in on his great rival.

''It was a lot of fun out there today, '' said Els.

''I felt quite comfortable with my swing and tried get it in play and when the opportunity arrived tried to be aggressive.

''Now I've just got to keep it up.'' Els, who has been hampered by a knee injury, said his return to full fitness was the most important factor in his good form.'' ''I think I'm totally over the injury problems, I'm not subconsciously thinking about it in my swing.

''I don't want to write this season off yet. I've come a long way to be here and I'm just excited to be here.'' DiMarco, whose mother Norma died earlier this month, has his father supporting him here.

''I never considered not playing,'' said the 37-year-old. ''She certainly would not want me to sit at home.

''Usually when she comes to a tournament like this she cannot see much but I know she's got the best seat in the house now.'' Nearly-man DiMarco has twice come close to capturing a major championship.

He was beaten by Woods at the 2005 U.S. Masters and by Vijay Singh at the 2004 U.S. PGA Championship, becoming the first player since Tom Watson in the late 1970s to lose two successive playoffs in a major.

In joint fifth position on seven-under 137 were Australia's Adam Scott, Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain and Finn Mikko Ilonen.

REUTERS PKS HT2307