Woods moves into lead

Tiger Woods vaulted into the lead at the Dunlop Phoenix tournament with two Britons and an Irishman in close pursuit after the second round in Japan.

Woods, boosted by an early eagle, compiled a five-under-par 65 in benign conditions at Phoenix Country Club, moving within sight of his third successive victory in the event.

“I’m very happy to shoot that and to have that be the lead is awfully nice,” Woods said after posting an eight-under 132 halfway total, one shot better than Irishman Padraig Harrington (66) on a day when the cream rose quickly to the top.

Englishman Ian Poulter carded 64 to move within two shots of the lead, while first-round leader Shingo Katayama of Japan stumbled with a mediocre 70 that left him three shots back.

Another Englishman, Justin Rose had the day’s best score with a sizzling 63 to edge within four shots of the lead.

But all eyes were on Woods, who delighted his overflowing gallery with the sort of performance that suggests he is not far away from the form he displayed to win his final six starts of the season on the PGA Tour.