India's Jyoti Randhawa gallantly held on to the halfway lead at the HSBC Champions on Friday, but a star-studded chasing pack, led by Tiger Woods, is snapping on his heels.
Randhawa overcame a sluggish start to fire a three-under-par 69 for a two-day total of 10-under-par 134 at Sheshan International Golf Club, but Woods, after a lacklustre opening 72, charged ominously into contention with a course record-equalling 64.
The American world number one blitzed the Sheshan course with a wonderful array of shot-making, sinking seven birdies, including four in a row, and a stunning eagle to lie just two shots behind Randhawa.
South African Retief Goosen, the world's number six, fired a 67 for second place on 135 while 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell was a further stroke back in equal third with Woods.
Asia's challenge in the HSBC Champions, Asia's richest event at US $5 million, will not be carried only by Randhawa at the weekend, as Thailand's Chawalit Plaphol stayed in the hunt with a 70, good for tied fifth place on 137.
India's Shiv Kapur and Yang Yong-eun are four back after a 67 and 72 respectively.
Randhawa knows that Woods, bidding for his seventh straight stroke-play victory, will be the man to beat when they square off in the last group on Saturday.
"I just looked and saw Tiger being at seven under and that's something to be aware of.
"I guess if I get to play with him, it would be an honour for me, just to have a round of golf with him. I just have to see if I can play my own game the next two days and see what happens. Tiger is the number one player in the world and he's in good form.
"If I can keep my mind on what I've done and keep doing it the last two days, I think I've pretty much done my job and from there, I'll take it as it comes," said Randhawa, Asia's number one in 2002.
His morning didn't enjoy the best starts with two opening bogeys from the 10th, but Randhawa regained those dropped shots immediately with birdies on 12 and 13 before adding four more birdies on the card against a third bogey.
"I'm very delighted. I didn't think I would end up leading the tournament after two days, especially in a field like this. But I guess I played well and I'm just happy to be here. I don't know why I went for those pins early in the round and missed on the wrong side. But I was lucky to have a few birdies after that that kept my round going," said Randhawa, winner of the Hero Honda Indian Open last month.
Woods, a 12-time Major champion, was delighted with his day's pickings, which equalled Henrik Stenson's course record of 64 shot earlier in the day.
"I hit the ball better and close enough and made many putts and got rolling there on the front nine. It was kind of nice," said Woods, who is of American-Thai parentage.
"I missed a few actually. And it's kind of scary to say that when you shoot eight under par but I did miss a few out there. I'm only two back right now and with 36 holes to go, I'm in good shape."
Woods got into the groove from the fourth, shooting four straight birdies with some glorious attacking golf to turn in 32. He picked up two more birdies on 10 and 11 before dropping a bogey on 13 with a three-putt from 15 feet. But he made amends immediately, drilling a four iron from 224 yards out to 10 feet on the par five 14th for an eagle before closing his round with his seventh birdie of the day on the par five 18th.
He warned his rivals that he was nearly back to his winning form, which saw him lift a ninth title of the year at the WGC-American Express Championship early last month before taking a five-week break.
"It's close to what I was at Amex. I had it dialled pretty good (there). That was probably my best ball-striking week all year. Yesterday, I was one-dimensional. Today it was nice to be able to fix my swing where I could maneuver the golf ball."
Two-time US Open winner Goosen put himself in contention with a strong finish of three closing birdies. "I made two bad mistakes on 12 and 15 (for bogeys) and it looked like I was six or five off the lead. Then finishing with three birdies got me right back in the tournament," said Goosen, whose last visit to China last month saw him claim the Volkswagen Masters-China on the Asian Tour.
"I obviously enjoy playing in China. There are a couple of guys up there, the Asian guys are playing really well. I always knew there are a lot of good players out here in Asia. It's a question of time and they will start showing their colours."
Asian Tour number one Jeev Milkha Singh, playing alongside Woods, carded a 69 for a 139 total while Korea's Choi Kyung-ju is a further stroke back after a 72.
The HSBC Champions is jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour, Southern African Sunshine Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia and China Golf Association.
Leading second round scores
134 - Jyoti Randhawa (IND) 65-69
135 - Retief Goosen (RSA) 68-67
136 - Michael Campbell (NZL) 66-70, Tiger Woods (USA) 72-64
137 - Marc Warren (SCO) 66-71, Padraig Harrington (IRL) 67-70, Chawalit Plaphol (THA) 67-70
138 - Yang Yong-eun (KOR) 66-72, Shiv Kapur (IND) 71-67
139 - John Bickerton (ENG) 68-71, Colin Montgomerie (SCO) 69-70, Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 70-69, Luke Donald (ENG) 70-69, Alan Mclean (SCO) 71-68, Tadahiro Takayama (JPN) 72-67, Jim Furyk (USA) 73-66
140 - K J Choi (KOR) 68-72, Darren Fichardt (RSA) 71-69, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 72-68, Anthony Wall (ENG) 73-67, Warren Abery (RSA) 74-66, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 76-64
141 - Bradley Dredge (WAL) 71-70, Nick O'Hern (AUS) 72-69, Chinarat Phadungsil (THA) 72-69, Paul Casey (ENG) 73-68, Robert Karlsson (SWE) 73-68, Gregory Bourdy (FRA) 73-68
142 - Johan Edfors (SWE) 68-74, Anton Haig (RSA) 71-71, Camilo Villegas (COL) 71-71, Gaurav Ghei (IND) 72-70, Cesar Monasterio (ARG) 74-68, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 75-67
143 - Alejandro Canizares (ESP) 68-75, Steven Bowditch (AUS) 72-71
144 - Chris Dimarco (USA) 70-74, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 72-72, Kevin Stadler (USA) 74-70, Mark Pilkington (WAL) 74-70
145 - Stephen Dodd (WAL) 72-73, David Howell (ENG) 73-72, Jean Van De Velde (FRA) 74-71.
