Woods overtakes Harrington in Shanghai

Tiger Woods turned the tables on Padraig Harrington with a sensational second round 64 in Shanghai.

Five behind the new European No 1 after the opening day of the HSBC Champions Tournament, Woods stormed a stroke ahead of the Dubliner thanks to his eight-under par course record equalling effort.

The American, who has been taking a break from golf for the past five weeks, hit an eagle and seven birdies and dropped just one stroke to move from 27th to joint third - just two shots behind surprise leader Jyothi Randhawa.

Harrington birdied two of the last five for a two under par 70 that left him just three behind Randhawa and one behind Woods on seven under.

Indian Randhawa retained the lead on 10 under thanks to a 69 - one stroke clear of South African Retief Goosen with Woods tied for third with Kiwi Michael Campbell on eight under.

But perfectionist Woods was frustrated to miss a host of chances at Sheshan Golf Club - despite reducing a seven-shot overnight deficit to just two strokes at halfway.

He said: "It's kind of scary to say when you shoot eight under par but I did miss a few out there.

"It was a really nice day actually to put together a number like this to get myself back in the tournament.

"I feel like I made some improvements from Thursday and hit the ball pretty clean. I gave myself some really makeable putts which I didn't do Thursday.

"I was struggling quite a bit trying to get my distance control and shaping shots. I was pretty much one dimensional and could only hit the ball one way.

"This time I was able to shape the ball both ways and I really felt like I was in control of it all day.

"Hopefully I can do the same again on the weekend and make many birdies because that's what you're going to have to do to win this tournament.

"I'm only two back right now with 36 holes to go, so I'm in good shape."

Harrington plans to stay patient with his putter after failing to hole his share of putts in a two under par effort that left him three strokes off the pace.

He said: "It's not too bad being three shots behind. I played a bit better but couldn't get the putts to drop. Maybe I'm saving them for the weekend.

"I wished I could have picked up a few more shots but I don't have the choice now. I played my game well and it would have been nice to see a couple more putts drop.

"I just have to keep playing the same way and keep patient at the weekend."

Woods will join Randhawa and Goosen in the final threeball today with the South African relishing the chance to go head to head with the game's best player.

Goosen said: "Tiger played himself right back into the tournament with a very good round at eight under par.

"We always knew he was going to be the guy to beat this week and you're going to have to play well to stay ahead of him.

"It's going to be an exciting weekend ahead and it's going to be hard to keep concentrating on what's going on, what you have to do and not what's going on outside the ropes."