Thousand Oaks, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Tournament host Tiger Woods fired a course-record tying 10-under 62 on Friday and moved two strokes clear of the field after two rounds of the World Challenge.
Woods finished 36 holes at 11-under-par 133. He has won this event five times with his last title coming in 2011.
First-round leader Zach Johnson shot 4-under 68, but dipped into second place at minus-9. Matt Kuchar also had a 68 in round two and stands alone in third at 8-under-par 136.
Defending champion Graeme McDowell, who was paired with Woods, carded a 5- under 67 to move into fourth place at minus-5 at Sherwood Country Club. Bubba Watson posted his second straight 70 and is alone in fifth at 4-under 140.
Bill Haas (68) and Jim Furyk (69) share sixth place at minus-3, while Keegan Bradley (68) and Ian Poulter (67) are the final players in red figures at 1- under-par 143.
Woods was four strokes off the lead to start the round. He got off to a flying start, but Johnson had an equally strong beginning. Woods birdied the first and second, both from inside six feet, before dropping his approach within three feet at the fourth.
Johnson also birdied the first two holes, then posted his third birdie of the day at the fifth. He stood at 8-under and was still four clear of Woods. However, Johnson cooled off with 12 consecutive pars from the sixth.
Woods caught fire after pars at the fifth and sixth. He rolled in an 18-footer for birdie at the seventh and made it two in a row with a birdie on the eighth.
The five-time champion dropped his approach to three feet on the 10th and kicked that in for his fifth birdie of the day. Woods 2-putted for birdie on the par-5 11th to gain a share of the lead.
Woods knocked in another short birdie try on the par-5 13th and followed with a 4-footer for birdie on 14. Woods again 2-putted for birdie on No. 16. He parred the last two and was three clear of the field.
"I don't think I've seen (the greens) quite this fast unless we get Santa Ana's blowing when it's dry. I mean, this is the last tournament of the year for a lot of us. I'd think they'd make it a little easier on us," Woods said. "But they gave it to us pretty good the last couple days."
Johnson ended his string of pars with a birdie at the last to end two back.
NOTES: For the second straight day, there was a 1-hour frost delay ... Woods hit 12 of 13 fairways and all 18 greens in regulation in the second round ... Woods also shot 62 here in 2007.
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