Nick Dougherty's dream of a first head-to-head with Tiger Woods was close to becoming a reality after yesterday's second round of the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai.

And so was David Howell's wish to show Woods that he had learned a lot from their last clash at the Masters in April.

At the halfway stage of the €4.2 million event, the richest staged in Asia and the opening leg of the new European Tour season, the two Englishmen are joint leaders on 12 under par.

Woods is two behind and joint third with Australian left-hander Nick O'Hern after another round full of thrills and spills for the world number one, this time for a 69.

It ended with a second shot into the lake on the 538-yard 18th and then a 20-foot par-saving putt which hung on the lip before dropping.

Dougherty, the 23-year-old from Liverpool, finished for his 68 just as Woods came to that last hole and willed him to make a birdie by saying: "Come on, Tiger".

After hearing he had gone into the water with his second shot, though, he joked: "I'm on the range if he needs me."

The par meant O'Hern would partner the leaders in the third round.

Best of the Irish is Graeme McDowell, who shot a flawless five-under-par 67 to lie in a share of 16th spot on seven under par.

Padraig Harrington is on three under after a 72 which included an eagle at the long 14th, and Paul McGinley is on one under after a 70.

For Dougherty, the week has given him further cause to believe he can earn a Ryder Cup debut next September. He is in the 10th and last automatic spot, and commented: "I don't think I'm being naive or dumb in thinking I've got a really good chance of making that team.

"It's something I'm gunning for, and a great week here would make a massive difference."

First prize is €700,000.

"I think if you ask my peers they would think I have a chance. I'm very confident about the fact that if I play well I'll make it. I'm obviously desperate to play."

Asked if he liked leading, he replied: "Oh yes, I love it - that's why I play. It's a Weakest Link mentality - you laugh at the people at the start when they get voted off, but the real champions are the people who actually get on the show.

"The fact that I'm there everybody would see me screw up if I did - I think that's the buzz of it."

Howell is eighth on the cup standings and would view it as a real failure if he does not retain his place in the side.

The Swindon 30-year-old, now 19th in the world, has made huge leaps in his game since partnering Woods in the third round at Augusta.

"I played with him in Dubai two years ago and thrashed him by a single shot. Then I played with him in the Masters and he thrashed me by 12 (actually it was 11, 65 to 76), so you can make whatever you want out of that.

"I had never been anywhere near the lead of a major after two rounds and played like you might expect me to. He was used to that situation and coped with it like you would expect him to.

"But I witnessed first-hand one of the greatest rounds I'm sure he's ever played, or that's been played in a major, so that was very fortunate."

"The main thing I learned was that he's very good and I'm not kidding myself that I'm anywhere near as good, but if I can shoot a decent score there's no guarantee Tiger can beat that score, and that's the beauty of golf.

"You're not really playing against the opponent. It's not a tennis match, although you can let the other person intimidate you."

Howell finished his Masters debut in 11th to earn himself a return trip next April, and two weeks ago finished a career-best seventh on the Order of Merit. He might even have won it but for a two-month injury lay-off.

The player who did take it - for a record eighth time - has been an also-ran so far this week. Colin Montgomerie followed playing partner Woods into the lake on the last and ran up a double-bogey seven for a 71 and one-over aggregate.

Thomas Bjorn's day included an exchange of words with Craig Parry over whether one group should have let another through because of a ruling hold-up.

With the European Tour investigating a scuffle earlier in the week between sports psychologist John Pates - someone who is paid to teach players how to control their emotions - and Robert-Jan Derksen's caddie Rick Brand, a long season appears to be taking its toll.

CLARKE SLIPS: The defending champion Darren Clarke lost his share of the lead after the second round of the Taiheiyo Masters in Japan.

The Ulsterman, who carded a six-under 66 in the first round, slipped down the field after a one-under 71 to share third place.

Bogeys at the first and 18th sandwiched birdies at the eighth, 12th and 14th as Clarke's grip on the title was loosened. He trailed local Hideki Kase by five shots after the tournament leader fired his second 66 to go 12 under, and Katsumune Imai by two shots after his five-under 67.