Shanghai: World number one Tiger Woods shot a course-record equaling eight-under par 64 here on Friday to move within two shots of the lead at the five-million-dollar HSBC Champions tournament.

Following a five-week holiday and a stuttering even-par opening round at the Sheshan International Golf Club, the Tiger engine roared back into top gear as he blitzed the course with brilliant tee-to-green striking.

However Woods missed a raft of birdie chances that could have seen him record one of the great rounds of golf, while a three-putt bogey on the 13th from 15 feet gave him his only bogey for the day.

"It's kind of scary to say, when you shoot eight-under par, but I did miss a few out there," Woods said, admitting he was extremely satisfied after a frustrating first day of the tournament.

"I hit the ball a lot better today, I was in control of it all day today. Hopefully I can do the same thing on the weekend."
Woods' round left him only two shots behind unheralded Indian Jyoti Randhawa, who followed up his 65 on Thursday with another solid round of 69 to lead the star-studded field at 10 under.

Sweden's Henrik Stenson also shot a 64 earlier on Friday to briefly claim the course record for his own, although he had a horror opening round of 76 so was still six shots away from Randhawa.

Two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen from South Africa is second, with a round of five under on Friday taking him to nine under for the tournament.

Woods is in equal third place alongside 2005 US Open champion Michael Campbell from New Zealand, who shot a two-under 70 on Friday to follow his opening round of 66.

Newly crowned European Order of Merit champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland shot a 70 to remain in the hunt at seven under, lying in equal fifth position with Scotland's Marc Warren and Thailand's Chawalit Plaphol.

The HSBC Champions, dubbed the "Asian Masters", is the region's richest tournament and this year has attracted 10 of the world's top 20 players.

Randhawa, who at age 34 has a 2002 Asian Order of Merit title to his credit but no European or US PGA trophies, said he was surprised as anyone else at seeing his name still atop the leaderboard.

"I didn't think I would end up leading the golf tournament after two days, especially in a field like this. But I guess I played well and I'm just happy to be here," he said.

Randhawa's efforts earned him a weekend spot playing alongside Woods and Goosen, which he said he was looking forward to.

"It would be an honor for me just to have a round of golf with him (Woods). I'll just try to play my own game," he said.
Goosen, who finished with three birdies to storm to outright second, said all the players now had their eyes on Woods.

 
"Tiger played right back into the tournament today we always knew he was going to be the guy to beat this week," Goosen said.

Woods was in the form of his life before taking his five-week holiday, which he said was needed to recharge his batteries after a particularly hectic two months of golf.

Woods' last victory at the World Golf Championships in England on October 1  gave him his sixth straight strokeplay win on the PGA Tour.

He has won nine tournaments this year, including the British Open and US PGA Championship to bring his career tally of majors to 12.

Woods said Friday he felt he had nearly returned to his pre-holiday form from the World Golf Championships.
"That was probably my best ball-striking week all year," he said.

The HSBC Champions tournament is the official start of the 2007 European tour, and is co-sanctioned with the Asian, Australasian and South African tours.