HOUSTON (Texas), March 30: Vijay Singh, seeking his first US PGA Tour win since the 2000 Masters, returned a seven-under-par 65 to take a two-shot lead after the second round of the $4 million Houston Open on Friday.

Fijian Singh, the world number eight, was 12-under-par on 132, two strokes ahead of Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke, who also had a 65. One shot further back on 135 at the TPC at The Woodlands course was JP Hayes (68).

Geoff Ogilvy of Australia was on 136 together with Brandt Jobe, while Scott Verplank, Jay Haas and Chris Riley shared sixth position on 137. Australian Greg Norman and Justin Leonard were also in contention on 138.

Singh, 39, said it was important to play well this week as he continued his preparations for next month’s Masters at Augusta.

Leading second round scores :

132 — Vijay Singh (Fiji) 67, 65.

134 — Darren Clarke (Britain) 69, 65.

135 — J.P. Hayes 67, 68.

136 — Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 71, 65; Brandt Jobe 70, 66.

137 — Scott Verplank 67, 70; Jay Haas 67, 70; Chris Riley 67, 70.

138 — Greg Norman (Australia) 70, 68; Justin Leonard 70, 68.

139 — Nick Price (Zimbabwe) 68, 71; Fred Couples 68, 71; Esteban Toledo (Mexico) 66, 73; Adam Scott (Australia) 72, 67; Luke Donald (Britain) 71, 68; Shigeki Maruyama (Japan) 68, 71; Jerry Kelly 71, 68; Hal Sutton 72, 67; Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain) 71, 68.

Other international players:

140 — Robert Allenby (Australia) 68, 72; Rory Sabbatini (South Africa) 69, 71; Frank Nobilo (New Zealand) 70, 70; Shingo Katayama (Japan) 68, 72.

141 — Greg Chalmers (Australia) 69, 72; Rod Pampling (Australia) 70, 71; Phil Tataurangi (New Zealand) 72, 69.

142 — Stephen Ames (Canada) 71, 71; Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 69, 73; K.J. Choi (South Korea) 72, 70.

143 — Colin Montgomerie (Britain) 72, 71; Ian Leggatt (Canada) 70, 73; Grant Waite (New Zealand) 72, 71; Craig Parry (Australia) 74, 69.

144 — Craig Perks (New Zealand) 74, 70; Steve Elkington (Australia) 74, 70; John Senden (Australia) 72, 72.

145 — Brian Watts (Canada) 73, 72.—Reuters