Tiger leads Farmers by two

Golf: Tiger Woods took a two-shot halfway lead at the Farmers Insurance Open after a seven-under-par second round of 65 in La…

Golf:Tiger Woods took a two-shot halfway lead at the Farmers Insurance Open after a seven-under-par second round of 65 in La Jolla, California. The former world number one made a blistering start on Torrey Pines' north course, with four birdies and an eagle three in his opening 11 holes after starting three shots behind overnight leaders Brandt Snedeker and KJ Choi.

His last three holes saw two birdies sandwiching a bogey, and his 11-under total was enough to keep him clear of Billy Horschel, who followed yesterday's 66 on the north course with a 69 on the south.

Woods is nine under par for the par-five holes so far, with five birdies and two eagles in the eight holes, and he told pgatour.com: "That's basically where the round could be had.

"On the north course, drive the ball well here and you're going to probably have four-iron shots into the par-fives. We just happened to have the wind turn into us on nine, so I ended up hitting five-wood.

READ MORE

"But you sprinkle that in with probably four or five wedge shots in there, a round of six or seven under par is definitely conceivable."

Canada's Brad Fritsch shot 67 to join an otherwise all-American group of six players at eight under. Casey Wittenberg also shot 67, Erik Compton matched Woods' 65 and Steve Marino, Jimmy Walker and Josh Teater completed the group.

England's Ross Fisher was on the same score at Horschel until two late bogeys dropped him to seven under alongside Tag Ridings, who hit a hole in one yesterday, and Korean Charlie Wi who carded 66 on the north course today.

Choi fell to six under after a round of 73 while defending champion Snedeker fared worse still, four bogeys and only one birdie dropping him to four under.

Ryder Cup stars Phil Mickelson and Nicolas Colsaerts, major winners Trevor Immelman and Ben Curtis, Australia's Jason Day and Scot Martin Laird were among those who scraped through right on the cut line of one under.

But there was no such relief for Camilo Villegas, Stewart Cink or John Daly, while Scott Stallings (78) and Ryo Ishikawa (79) fell below the cut line despite opening rounds of 66 and 68 respectively.