Golf: Woods set for $14m payday

ATLANTA, Georgia - - Tiger Woods moved closer to adding another US$10 million ($14.1 million) to his treasure chest when he took a one-stroke lead after the second round at golf's Tour Championship on Friday.

Despite missing two short putts late, Woods carded a decent two-under-par 68 on a steamy afternoon at East Lake.

He posted a five-under 135 halfway total, one shot ahead of Irishman Padraig Harrington (69) and American Sean O'Hair (70), with South African Ernie Els (66) two shots behind.

If Woods wins the US PGA Tour's play-off finale, he will also collect a US$10m bonus awarded to the play-off points champion. He probably still will receive the bonus without winning the tournament itself, but that would leave his fate in the hands of others.

Four other players will automatically win the US$10 million if they win the tournament but they were all a significant distance off the pace, with Jim Furyk best placed, five strokes behind.

"The day as a whole was good," Woods said.

"I made three (birdies) on the trot to end the front nine and then hit some scratchy shots the back nine but also hit some really good ones."

Woods could have enjoyed a significant advantage, because he missed an eagle putt from inside two metres at No.15 and a birdie try from a similar distance on No.16. He also bogeyed the last after fluffing a flop shot.

John Senden was the best Australian, five strokes behind in a tie for 12th, while Marc Leishman and Geoff Ogilvy were seemingly out of contention, nine and 13 shots back respectively.

"I'm almost happy to shoot 70," said Senden, who eagled the par-five 15th from 5m.

"I didn't strike it well today. You've got to drive it well around here and it was just one of those days where if you're not feeling 100 per cent with the swing, it shows on a tough course."

Leishman, meanwhile, endured a day he would rather forget.

He blocked his drive out-of-bounds right at the par-four third, running up a double bogey, and also bogeyed the final two holes.

"I hit a few bad drives and only had one birdie the whole day," he said after shooting 74 to fall nine strokes off the pace.

"I hit a lot of greens (but) had a bit of trouble reading the greens. I felt I hit the putts alright and they weren't even going close."

- AAP