Westwood on the charge

Lee Westwood today surged into contention for a payday of more than £1m on the second day of the prestigious Players Championship at Sawgrass.

While most of the attention in the opening round was focused on surprise leader Roberto Castro and Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods giving chase, Westwood ground out an opening 69.

The former world number one carded 14 pars in a row – he missed from two feet for birdie on the first – before picking up birdies at three of his last four holes to lie six shots off the lead.

However, it was a different story in today’s second round as a blistering start helped propel the Englishman into a tie for second place, just one off the pace.

Starting from the 10th, Westwood opened with a par four but then pitched in for eagle on the 11th, holed from 14ft for birdie on the 12th and then almost holed his tee-shot on the next to leave a simple tap-in.

A run of four pars threatened to derail the 40-year-old’s charge, but for the second day in succession he birdied the daunting 18th to reach the turn in 31.

At eight under par, Westwood was alongside American duo Kevin Chappell and Ryan Palmer, with Castro yet to begin his second round after a course record-equaling 63 on Thursday.

Woods was just two off the lead on seven under thanks to three birdies and one bogey in his first eight holes, with Sergio Garcia two under for his round at the turn to join McIlroy on six under overall.

McIlroy, whose opening 66 was his lowest round at Sawgrass by six shots, was among the later starters as he looked to make the halfway cut for the first time in the £6.1m event at the fourth attempt.

The cut was projected to fall at one under par, meaning Justin Rose and Ian Poulter both had work to do as they went into the back nine on one over.