THOUSAND OAKS (California), Dec 1: Former US Open champion Graeme McDowell continued his love affair with Sherwood Country Club as he charged into a commanding three-shot lead after Friday's second round of the World Challenge.

Winner here in 2010 and runner-up in 2009, McDowell fired a superb six-under-par 66 in rain-softened conditions to take control of the elite 18-player event hosted by Tiger Woods.

The 33-year-old Northern Irishman made a fast start with three consecutive birdies on a receptive layout and finished with four more in the last nine holes to post a nine-under total of 135.

Jim Furyk, World Challenge winner in 2009, carded a 69 to sit three strokes off the pace with fellow Americans Bo Van Pelt (68) and Keegan Bradley (69).

Woods, the defending champion who has won the tournament a record five times, was a further shot back at five under after carding a five-birdie 69.

McDowell, however, took charge of the invitational event on a mainly overcast day with intermittent drizzle after starting the second round two strokes behind overnight leader Nick Watney.

He covered the front nine in two-under 34 with his only bogey coming at the par-four seventh, and picked up four more shots with a flawless display on the hillier homeward nine.

Watney, two strokes ahead of the field overnight after opening with a 67, bogeyed two of the last three holes for a 73 to lie five shots off the pace.

Leading second-round scores: 135 — Graeme McDowell (Northern Ireland) 69, 66.

138 — Bo Van Pelt (US)    70 68; Jim Furyk (US) 69, 69; Keegan Bradley (US) 69, 69139 – Tiger Woods (US) 70, 69. 140 — Rickie Fowler (US) 73, 67; Nick Watney (US) 67, 73.

141 — Jason Dufner (US) 73, 68.

142 — Dustin Johnson (US) 74, 68; Matt Kuchar (US) 73, 69.

143 — Brandt Snedeker (US) 75, 68; Webb Simpson (US) 70, 73.

144 — Zach Johnson (US)     74, 70; Steve Stricker (US) 73, 71; Hunter Mahan (US) 71, 73.

145 — Ian Poulter (Britain) 73, 72; Bubba Watson (US) 71, 74.

146 — Jason Day (Australia) 71, 75.—Reuters