Randhawa staves off roaring Tiger, manages lead after round two

Shanghai, Nov 10: stuttering start could not derail Jyoti Randhawa's campaign in the HSBC Champions and the Indian fired a second round of three-under 69 to hold on to the halfway lead with a star-studded chasing pack, led by a resurgent Tiger Woods, snapping on his heels.

Randhawa today overcame a sluggish start for a round of 69 to take his two-day tally to 10-under 134 at the Sheshan International Golf Club but it was Woods who, after a lacklustre opening 72, charged ominously into contention with a course-record equalling 64.

The American world number one blitzed the Sheshan course with a wonderful array of shot-making, sinking seven birdies, including four in a row, and a stunning eagle to lie just two shots behind Randhawa.

South African Retief Goosen, the world's number six, fired a 67 for second place on 135 while 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell was a further stroke back in equal third with Woods.

Randhawa didn't have the best of starts with two opening bogeys from the 10th but he regained those dropped shots immediately with birdies on 12th and 13th before adding four more birdies on the card against a third bogey.

Despite managing to stay atop the leaderboard, Randhawa knows that Woods, gunning for his seventh straight strokeplay victory, will be the man to beat when they square off in the last group tomorrow.

''I just looked and saw Tiger being at seven under and that's something to be aware of. I guess if I get to play with him, it would be an honour for me, just to have a round of golf with him. I just have to see if I can play my own game the next two days and see what happens. Tiger is the number one player in the world and he's in good form.

''If I can keep my mind on what I've done and keep doing it the last two days, I think I've pretty much done my job and from there, I'll take it as it comes,'' said Randhawa.

''I'm very delighted. I didn't think I would end up leading the tournament after two days, especially in a field like this. But I guess I played well and I'm just happy to be here. I don't know why I went for those pins early in the round and missed on the wrong side. But I was lucky to have a few birdies after that that kept my round going,'' said winner of the Indian Open last month.

Woods was delighted with his day's pickings, which equalled Henrik Stenson's course record of 64 shot earlier in the day. ''I hit the ball better and close enough and made many putts and got rolling there on the front nine. It was kind of nice,'' said the golfer of American-Thai parentage. ''I missed a few actually. And it's kind of scary to say that when you shoot eight under par but I did miss a few out there. I'm only two back right now and with 36 holes to go, I'm in good shape,'' he added.

India's Shiv Kapur fired five-under 67 to soar to the tied eighth position with a two-day total of 138, while Asian Tour number one Jeev Milkha Singh (139) turned in three-under 69 to move up to tied 10th position.

Seasoned Gaurav Ghei, the other Indian in the fray, put up an improved round of two-under 70 but his total of 142 saw him being pushed down to tied 29th.

The HSBC Champions is jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour, Southern African Sunshine Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia and China Golf Association.

Leading second round scores: 134 - Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 65-69 135 - Retief Goosen (RSA) 68-67 136 - Michael Campbell (NZL) 66-70, Tiger Woods (USA) 72-64 137 - Marc Warren (SCO) 66-71, Padraig Harrington (IRL) 67-70, Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 67-70 138 - Yang Yong-eun (KOR) 66-72, Shiv Kapur (IND) 71-67 139 - John Bickerton (ENG) 68-71, Colin Montgomerie (SCO) 69-70, Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 70-69, Luke Donald (ENG) 70-69, Alan Mclean (SCO) 71-68, Tadahiro Takayama (JPN) 72-67, Jim Furyk (USA) 73-66 140 - K J Choi (KOR) 68-72, Darren Fichardt (RSA) 71-69, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 72-68, Anthony Wall (ENG) 73-67, Warren Abery (RSA) 74-66, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 76-64 141 - Bradley Dredge (WAL) 71-70, Nick O'Hern (AUS) 72-69, Chinarat Phadungsil (THA) 72-69, Paul Casey (ENG) 73-68, Robert Karlsson (SWE) 73-68, Gregory Bourdy (FRA) 73-68 142 - Johan Edfors (SWE) 68-74, Anton Haig (RSA) 71-71, Camilo Villegas (COL) 71-71, Gaurav Ghei (IND) 72-70, Cesar Monasterio (ARG) 74-68, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 75-67 143 - Alejandro Canizares (ESP) 68-75, Steven Bowditch (AUS) 72-71 144 - Chris Dimarco (USA) 70-74, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 72-72, Kevin Stadler (USA) 74-70, Mark Pilkington (WAL) 74-70

UNI