Golf: Spectacular Woods takes lead

A pair of spectacular approach shots on the final two holes gave Tiger Woods the lead after the second round of the Asian Honda Classic in Thailand. The American finished 10 under par, two strokes ahead of the field, after an eight-under-par 64.

Woods had scored 70 in the first round and started the day four strokes behind the Briton Lee Petters, who had had 14 stitches inserted in a facial injury after being hit by another player's backswing on Thursday. The 21-year-old finished on 134, two shots ahead of Petters, the American Greg Hanrahan, and the Mexican Carlos Espinosa.

"I felt a lot better today, I am over the jet lag," said Woods, who made a 20-hour flight to Bangkok on Tuesday night. Heat exhaustion and food poisoning forced him out of Wednesday's pro-am.

Ernie Els, the world No 4 who is defending his South African Open title in Johannesburg, is to rejoin the European Professional Golf Association tour.