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Day 1

November 6th 2009, Shanghai, China: Tiger Woods took his customary position atop the leaderboard at the WGC-HSBC Champions on Friday, tying for the halfway lead with Nick Watney after shooting a second straight five-under-par 67.

The American world number one endured a frustrating front nine but stormed home with four birdies at Sheshan International Golf Club to lead with overnight leader Watney, who returned a 70, on 10-under-par 134.

Asia’s first World Golf Championship event is poised for a thriller this weekend as world number two and 2007 HSBC Champions winner Phil Mickelson is also in the mix after carding a bogey-free 66 for a share of third place, one back, alongside big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros and American Ryan Moore.

India’s Jyoti Randhawa kept up his title hopes with a 70 that left him in tied eighth place, four shots behind the co-leaders while Chinese Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang was a further stroke back after a 72.

Playing alongside Woods, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, the current Asian Tour number one, battled to a 69 for a 140 total and remained confident of improving his position over the weekend.

But Friday was all about the planet’s most dominant player as Woods put himself in prime position to win his 17th WGC event and seventh title of the year. He needed to stay patient after turning in 35 with two birdies and a bogey but found his stride with four birdies coming home, including one at the last which saw him tie Watney.

“Today, I got off to a good start and birdied the very first hole. But after that, I didn't really make any putts. I had certainly some looks and didn't really capitalise on anything. And I made a putt at nine and from then on, I hit a lot of good putts and basically played the last 10 holes at five-under,” said Woods, who was runner-up here in 2005 and 2006.

“I was surprised at how difficult the pins were today. I think they certainly toughened it up after they saw what we did yesterday. You had to pay attention with some of those pins. You can't really go after just about every pin like you could yesterday,” added the 14-time Major champion.

Watney, coming off his best season on the US PGA Tour, overcame a double bogey with five birdies and one more bogey to set the clubhouse lead. He was not surprised to see the top stars make their move.

“It’s no surprise that they are playing well. I need to go out and keep playing well and keep making birdies to have any shot,” said the American.

Mickelson chipped in twice at the seventh and 15th holes for birdies for a blemish-free card. “I played well and kept the ball in play all throughout the day, and then made a couple of birdies at the end,” said the left-hander.

“I like this tournament a lot and I like this golf course a lot. So I'm hoping to play well on the weekend, but I'm very pleased with where I have put myself after two rounds.”

Randhawa, who enjoyed a top-10 at the HSBC Champions in 2006, mixed his card with four birdies against two bogeys. It was a welcome return to form for the Indian, who won the Singha Thailand Open earlier this year on the Asian Tour but failed to maintain his momentum.

“I need to putt better than this. The greens are tricky but guys are holing putts. It's a putting contest now. Whoever makes a lot of putts is going to win because the greens are very tricky,” he said.

“But you know, I'm well focused and whenever I got a chance I took advantage of that and that was a good point today.”