Golf: Journeyman Jobe on course to break his duck

American Brandt Jobe forged two shots clear in the Buick Invitational second round as champion Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson finally began to stir.

Jobe, co-leader overnight with Frenchman Thomas Levet, carded a five-under 67 in bright sunshine at Torrey Pines to finish at 12-under 132. The 39-year-old journeyman, yet to win on the PGA Tour, recovered from a bogey-bogey start after teeing off at the par-four 10th on the difficult South Course.

He birdied 13, eagled the par-five 18th after hitting a 265-yard second shot to just 12 feet and picked up further strokes on one, two, six and nine. "I drove the ball well and it's a good position to be in," Jobe said. "But if we looked at how many guys had the 36-hole lead and won the tournament last year, it probably wouldn't be a great number.

"I've got to continue to do the same things I've been doing. It's a tough golf course and the greens are tough to putt."

South African Tim Clark was tied for second at 10 under after shooting a 66 at the easier North Course, the other par-72 layout hosting the tournament. Level with Clark was Sweden's Jesper Parnevik, who carded a six-birdie 67 at the same venue.

Most of the attention from the large galleries, however, focused on world number one Woods, who rallied with a 68 at the South Course. In danger of missing the cut after opening with a 71, the game's leading player got to seven under with a stirring charge over the first 13 holes.

Chasing his fourth victory in eight years at Torrey Pines, Woods eagled the par-five 13th after powering his tee shot 342 yards, reaching the green in two and holing a 60-foot putt.

However, he lost momentum with bogeys on 14 and 16 and finished on five under.

Left-hander Mickelson, like Woods chasing a fourth Buick Invitational title, vaulted up the leaderboard into a share of 12th place with a 67. The twice major winner reeled off seven birdies and two bogeys for a 36-hole total of six-under 138.

- REUTERS