Chopra leads as Woods improves

Sweden’s Daniel Chopra led world number three Vijay Singh by two at the halfway stage of the Cialis Western Open in Illinois. But not for the first time it is Tiger Woods who has the biggest spotlight on him.

Woods is seven strokes behind and only 35th, but thanks to a second-round 67 he has two more rounds to build confidence ahead of his defence of the British Open championship at Hoylake.

A second successive missed cut – something he has never suffered before – was a distinct possibility after his opening 72 at Cog Hill.

But the world number one had an intensive session with coach Hank Haney and demonstrated with four birdies in his next six holes that it had been beneficial.

This is just the second tournament Woods has played since the Masters at the start of April. His father Earl died a month later and on his return at the US Open his focus was clearly not back and with back-to-back 76s he took an early exit from a major for the first time in his professional career.

After yesterday’s round he not surprisingly looked a lot happier.

“Hank and I had to organise a whole bunch of different things,” said Woods. “I just needed to keep progressing and had to get everything organised. I did that, which is really nice. I drove it great and hit my irons better – not great, but better – so I’m pretty excited.”

He accepts he may have too many players to pass to collect a fourth Western Open title, but to be sharp for the British Open is the real target and just to get two more competitive rounds under his belt was crucial.

Chopra, seeking his first US Tour victory, had his second successive 66 thanks to a back nine of 30 containing seven birdies – the last of them a holed bunker shot on the 18th.

“I feel like I have the capabilities to win,” he said. “The hardest part of winning on the PGA Tour is the mental aspect, believing that you can.

“Of course I believe that I can, but it’s that much more difficult when you’re in the situation. When you’re there on Sunday a couple of shots off the lead with a few holes to go or nine holes to go, it took me a while just to get used to that.

“Each shot is costing $100,000, where before I’d be lucky if I had made that in a year. That put a lot of pressure on me.

“People always say it’s not your money until you’ve won it so you’re not losing anything, but it’s hard to think that way sometimes.

“The longer you stay out here and the more you play, the more you get used to those facts and the more comfortable you get. I’m still learning.”

Luke Donald, who was paired with Woods the first two days, lies 12th after rounds of 70 and 67, but Masters champion Phil Mickelson crashed from fifth to 51st with his 74.

“It wasn’t the greatest round, but I’ve got two more and I’ll use them as a chance to get my game sharp hopefully for the British,” said the Masters champion.