Late rally lifts Woods in Florida

Two late birdies almost certainly saved Tiger Woods from a missed cut at the Honda Classic in Florida today – but like playing partner Lee Westwood the American was seven strokes off the early pace.

After Woods pulled his tee shot into the water on his way to a double bogey on the short fifth – his 14th – he dropped to 71st place on his first appearance at the event since he was a 17-year-old amateur.

Only those in the top 70 at the end of the second round progress to the last 36 holes, and Woods made sure he is likely to be among them as he hit a 138-yard approach to six feet on the eighth and followed that birdie putt with an 11-footer on the next to move up to joint 32nd.

It gave the former world number one a two-under-par 68 to go one under for the tournament, with Westwood on the same mark after a 69 in which he had one bogey - at the short 17th for the second day running – but birdied only the 15th and long third.

With overnight leader Davis Love among the later starters, fellow American Tom Gillis took over at the top, a course record-equalling 64 lifting him to eight under and two clear of the field.

Rory McIlroy and Justin Rose had yet to resume following their opening rounds of 66, but just ahead of them in joint third on five under with five to play was Erik Compton, a Nationwide Tour graduate who has undergone two heart transplant operations.

It was a good day too for Irish pair Graeme McDowell and Padraig Harrington.

McDowell was already one of the joint course record holders, but did it again with an eight-birdie and two-bogey 64 that moved him all the way up from three over to three under.

Harrington was alongside him and three under for the round with one to play, but Open champion Darren Clarke had double bogeys at the fifth and sixth as he headed out on seven over.