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BETHESDA, Maryland : Tiger Woods fired a four-under par 66 on Friday to seize a one-stroke clubhouse lead over Australian Rod Pampling midway into the second round of the six million-dollar PGA National.
World number one Woods, who doubles as tournament host at Congressional Country Club this week, seeks his third title of the year after wins at Bay Hill and the Memorial, each two weeks before a Major just like his own event.
"I need to hit the ball better than I did today," Woods said. "It was nice not to shoot myself out of it."
Woods opened with a 64 on Thursday, his lowest round since the 2007 Tour Championship, and was unhappy at having to scramble to score well.
"I hit the ball a little bit scratchy at times but I felt better with the putter. The game is weird that way," Woods said. "It could have been a little bit lower. It could have been a lot higher."
Woods, who began off the 10th tee, took a bogey at 11 for the second day in a row but answered with a four-foot birdie putt at the par-3 13th and then birdied the 15th and 16th for the second day in a row, both on short putts.
The 14-time major champion began his second nine with a birdie and added a two-foot birdie at the eighth to seize the lead for the first time and missed a 30-foot birdie putt at the ninth to settle for par.
"I didn't drive the ball well but put some in the cup," Woods said. "I either put it close to the hole or missed the greens altogether. I had a stretch where I didn't shoot too well but I was able to keep the round going."
Defending champion and first-round leader Anthony Kim was just starting his second round as Woods finished.
Pampling, first on the course, fired a 64 to jump into contention but knows his task of taming Tiger will be a tough one.
"I don't think you can go through the history books and find a guy who has been as consistent as Tiger. It's just amazing," Pampling said. "We're fortunate to be playing in the same era where we can watch Tiger."
Reigning Australian Masters champion Pampling, third here last year, ranks 91st on the money list this season with a top finish of ninth at Doral. His US wins have come at the 2004 International and at Bay Hill in 2006.
Pampling, 39, began with a birdie and had back-to-back birdies on the fourth and fifth holes, the first of them from 20 feet. Pampling missed a 15-foot par putt at six but replied with a 25-footer for birdie at seven.
"I just played nice, got off to a quick start. I just kept myself out of trouble," Pampling said. "Once you got a line on your putt they were guaranteed to go in."
Coming home, Pampling added a tap-in birdie at 12 and back-to-back birdies at 14 and 15, again dropping a 20-footer for the first of them.
"I've been hitting the same for over a month and things are finally starting to come around," Pampling said. "I was being as patient as I could. Hopefully it will continue on the weekend."
- AFP /ls
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