HOUSTON (Texas), Nov 8: Tiger Woods saw his chances dim to capture a fifth consecutive US PGA money title as an eagle lifted Charles Howell into the lead after two rounds of the season-ending Tour Championship here on Friday.

Howell’s second four-under par 67 put him at eight-under 134 after 36 holes, one stroke ahead of Fred Funk and two better than South Africa’s Retief Goosen.

World number one Woods, who must win to have any hope of overtaking Fiji’s Vijay Singh for the money crown, settled for his second consecutive 70 to share 12th place, six strokes behind Howell and just one ahead of second-rated Singh.

Howell, seeking his first title of 2003, hit a bad tee shot to bogey the par-3 12th but followed with an eagle at the par-5 13th, sending a 4-iron 235 yards and sinking a 12-feet putt, and added 12-foot birdies and 14 and 16.

Singh, who can clinch the money crown by finishing no worse than third, fired a 68, sinking three birdies on the front nine to rebound from an opening 73 in the six million-dollar duel of the year’s 30 top money winners.

Woods and Singh are also fighting for Player of the Year votes from rivals for the award to be announced December 8. In 10 of the past 11 years, the money champion won the award.

But Singh has played 27 events to 18 for Woods, a five-time Player of the Year winner who has a season-high five titles and the Vardon Trophy for lowest stroke average on tour.

Woods and Singh both struggled to read putts on the huge Champions Golf Club greens, a factor that has kept contenders bunched.

Goosen, who won last week in Tampa, fired a 67 to stay two back of the lead.

Chris Riley was fourth at 137, one stroke ahead of Chris DiMarco, David Toms and Justin Leonard and two better than Steve Flesch, Chad Campbell, Jonathan Kaye and South Africa’s Ernie Els, who fired a 69 Friday.

Woods joined Davis Love, Bob Tway and Kenny Perry on 140 with Singh, Briny Baird and Kirk Triplett on 141.

Leading second round scores:

134 Charles Howell III 67 67

135 Fred Funk 68 67

136 Retief Goosen (South Africa) 69 67

137 Chris Riley 69 68

138 David Toms 69 69, Justin Leonard 69 69, Chris DiMarco 68 70

139 Steve Flesch 71 68, Ernie Els (South Africa) 70 69, Chad Campbell 70 69, Jonathan Kaye 69 70

140 Davis Love III 73 67, Bob Tway 72 68, Tiger Woods 70 70, Kenny Perry 67 73

141 Vijay Singh (Fiji) 73 68, Kirk Triplett 70 71, Briny Baird 69 72

142 Darren Clarke (Britain) 74 68, Nick Price (Zimbabwe) 73 69, Jim Furyk 71 71, Scott Verplank 71 71, Robert Allenby (Australia) 69 73, Jerry Kelly 68 74—AFP/Reuters