Tiger on the prowl at Sherwood

US Tour

Tiger Woods played an almost flawless second round 62 at the Northwestern Mutual World Challenge to claim a two-shot lead on Friday.

The world number one carded 10 birdies to equal the course record he set at Sherwood Country Club in 2007, which was five shots better than the next best round on the day after defending champion Graeme McDowell and Ian Poulter both carded 67s.

Two shots behind the five-time champion is Zach Johnson, who followed up his first round 67 with a 68 to lie in second place, one shot in front of Matt Kuchar, who carded his second 68 of the week on Friday.

“Amazing what Tiger did out there,” Kuchar said to reporters after his round.

“It’s just some incredible golf. The rest of us, my four-under score is kind of a good barometer. That’s some good quality playing. Ten under is an amazing round of golf but I’d certainly take two more rounds of four-under par.

“I kind of felt sorry for Graeme.

“I saw he posted a five-under-par round, and it must have felt like it was two or three over.

“It’s tough when you’re paired with a guy like that. It makes you feel like you’re not doing much. But the rest of us just go about our business.”

Two-time champion McDowell, who won his first title in 2010 when he beat Woods during a play-off, admitted that he wasn’t in the same class as the American on a day the average score was 70.78.

“It was a clinic,” the Northern Irishman admitted.

“It was cool to see that kind of golf. He was under control. He hit it down the middle of every fairway.”

Johnson, who led the tournament after the first round, was largely disappointed with his efforts.

“I had opportunities.

“I had some putts on the back nine, opportunities where I could have got up and down for birdie and a couple of those par-fives that I didn’t.

“Other than that, it was a pretty solid day. No complaints. I mean, you finish with a birdie on 18, especially after yesterday when I bogeyed it, so I’ll take it.”

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