Woods fires 65 to lead by two shots

Published September 21, 2002

THOMASTOWN (Ireland), Sept 20: Tiger Woods fired a second successive round of seven-under-par 65 to strengthen his grip on the WGC-American Express Championship on Friday, moving two strokes clear of the elite 64-man field.

The 1999 champion, one ahead overnight after a course-record 65, collected seven birdies in a blemish-free display to finish at 14-under 130 in calm conditions at Mount Juliet.

Bidding to win the sixth World Golf Championship (WGC) title of his career, Woods was in unflappable mood, finding fairways and greens with regularity in an impressive display of precision golf.

Fellow American Jerry Kelly was alone in second place at 12-under 132 after reeling off eight birdies and one bogey for a course-record equalling 65.

SECOND ROUND SCORES:

130 Tiger Woods 65 65

132 Jerry Kelly 67 65

133 David Toms 66 67, Steve Lowery 66 67

134 Retief Goosen (South Africa) 67 67

135 Stuart Appleby (Australia) 69 66, Ernie Els (South Africa) 68 67, Gary Evans (Britain) 67 68

136 David Duval 71 65, Rocco Mediate 69 67, Davis Love III 69 67, Stephen Leaney (Australia) 69 67, Bob Estes 68 68, Justin Leonard 68 68, Chris DiMarco 67 69, Vijay Singh (Fiji) 67 69

137 Michael Campbell (New Zealand) 71 66, Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 71 66, Kevin Sutherland 69 68, Niclas Fasth (Sweden) 68 69, Mike Weir (Canada) 67 70

138 Scott McCarron 71 67, Jim Furyk 69 69, Jeff Sluman 69 69, Sergio Garcia (Spain) 69 69

139 Scott Hoch 71 68, Rich Beem 70 69, Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 69 70, Fred Funk 69 70, Craig Parry (Australia) 68 71, Nick Price (Zimbabwe) 68 71, Kenny Perry 68 71 140 Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 72 68, Bernhard Langer (Germany) 72 68, Peter Lonard (Australia) 71 69, Adam Scott (Australia) 70 70, Jose Coceres (Argentina) 68 72, Scott Verplank 68 72, Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain) 68 72.

141 Chris Riley 73 68, Paul Lawrie (Britain) 71 70, Eduardo Romero (Argentina) 70 71

142 Mark Calcavecchia 72 70, Robert Allenby (Australia) 72 70, Colin Montgomerie (Britain) 72 70, Trevor Immelman (South Africa) 71 71, Phil Mickelson 70 72—Reuters

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