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SHANGHAI, China - American golfer Tiger Woods hit an eight-under-par 64 to charge back into contention at the HSBC Champions event yesterday, finishing the second round two shots behind Indian leader Jyoti Randhawa.
The world No 1, who started the day at level par, hit seven birdies and an eagle with just one bogey to match the Sheshan course record set by Swede Henrik Stenson earlier in the day and believes he could have gone even lower.
"I missed a few actually, it's kind of scary when you shoot an eight-under-par, but I did miss a few out there," said Woods, who stands alongside New Zealand's Michael Campbell in third, one stroke behind Retief Goosen.
"Maybe I could have gone two or three (lower), maybe," he added.
Randhawa, the overnight leader on seven-under, bogeyed his first two holes on a humid day before bouncing back with six birdies and, but for another bogey at his 16th hole, would have finished 11-under for the event.
"All said and done, I'm happy," he said.
"If I'm leader at the halfway stage, you can't ask for more than that."
South African Goosen picked up shots on the final three holes to cancel out two back-nine bogeys and register 67 to add to his first round 68.
The two-time US Open winner could have been speaking for the whole field when he offered his reaction to Woods' round.
"We always knew he was going to be the guy to beat this week and you're going to have to play very well to stay ahead of him."
Woods, who has won his last six tournaments, took a while to get going but four sublime approach shots from the fourth left him with birdie putts of 10 foot or less and he drained the lot.
The charge stalled a little on the next two holes but he proceeded to pick up shots at the 10th and 11th holes to the delight of a huge gallery.
Woods three-putted to bogey the 13th but made immediate amends with a 220m four iron which soared over a lake and a bunker and landed 10 foot from the hole, leaving him to sink a right-to-left putt for an eagle three.
He narrowly missed a 15-foot eagle putt after a similar iron shot over the water to the 18th green but was more than satisfied to finish his day with another birdie.
"It was a really nice day to put together a number like this and get myself back in the tournament," Woods said.
"I'm only two back right now with 36 holes to go, so I'm in good shape. Just got to continue to make birdies."
Stenson hit eight birdies for his 64 to share the course record but a first round 76 means he remains joint 17th on four-under.
Briton David Howell, who held off Woods to win here last year, was at one-over for the tournament after a topsy-turvy even par round featuring a double bogey, three other dropped shots and five birdies.
With a field of only 74 players, there will be no cut, which is good news for Zhang Lianwei, who remains the top Chinese player on four-over for the tournament.
- REUTERS
