SHANGHAI, Nov 11: Britain’s Nick Dougherty and David Howell shared the halfway lead at the Champions Tournament on Friday, two shots clear of world number one Tiger Woods.
Joint overnight leader Dougherty fired a four-under-par 68 and Howell carded a blemish-free 67 in the rain to go to 12-under 132 at the $5 million event in Shanghai.
Woods stayed within striking distance at 10-under par despite an error-strewn 69 that left him tied for third with Australia’s Nick O’Hern, who shot a 67.
Woods made four birdies but struggled with his short game in the drizzly gloom at Sheshan International Golf Club.
The American fluffed a bunker shot on the seventh hole, slipped as he climbed out of the sand, then smashed his golf bag with his club in fury.
He bogeyed 16 after failing to clear a greenside bunker chipping from the rough and had to make a miraculous save at the par-five 18th after finding water with his second shot.
In contrast, Briton Kenneth Ferrie fired a hole-in-one and led for much of the second round until bogeys on 17 and 18 forced him to settle for a 69 and a five-way tie for fifth place.
Ferrie’s ace came at the sixth when he holed a four-iron from 193 yards.