3-under second round has Tiger in the hunt

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Tournament host Tiger Woods broke par for the second-consecutive round Friday in the World Challenge Presented by Northwestern Mutual at Sherwood Country Club.

After starting with a 2-under-par 70 on Thursday, he added a 3-under 69 Friday in wet conditions, recording five birdies and two bogeys. Tiger has a 36-hole score of 5-under 139 and is in fifth place, four strokes behind leader Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland.

“I played better today,” said Woods, a five-time winner of the event. “I certainly hit the ball better and made a few more putts. My putting and speed has been good, so I’m pleased about that.”

Due to more overnight rain, players could use preferred lies.

Woods got off to another strong start, making birdie at the par-5 second hole for the second day in a row. However, he also bogeyed the challenging par-3 eighth hole for the second-consecutive day. He rebounded with a birdie at the par-4 ninth to make the turn in 1-under 35.

Tiger followed with another birdie at the short par-4 10th, then made it three-in-a-row with a birdie at the par-5 11th. He added another birdie at the par-5 13th, but dropped a shot at the par-3 15th hole, then parred in.

For the second-straight day, Woods did most of his damage on the five par-5s, making birdies on three of them.

On Saturday, he will play with Rickie Fowler in the third-to-last twosome beginning at 1:36 p.m. ET.