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Tiger Woods has thrilled thousands of fans at The Lakes with a birdie-filled second round to seize the halfway lead at the Australian Open in Sydney.
The former world No.1 one peeled off seven birdies, including five in his first nine holes after starting on the 10th, to claim the outright lead from veteran Peter O’Malley, with young gun Jason Day two strokes behind in third spot.
The stage is set for an enthralling weekend with a host of other stars in the mix, including former champions Adam Scott and John Senden plus American drawcards Bubba Watson, Nick Watney, Dustin Johnson and USA Presidents Cup captain Fred Couples.
But Friday belonged to Tiger.
Starting the day three shots back, Woods at one point held a two-stroke advantage over the classy field before two bogeys on the home stretch slowed his progress.
But the 14-time major champion’s five-under-par 67 nevertheless had him nine-under for the tournament and eyeing off his first tournament victory since the 2009 Australian Masters.
Woods backed up his first bogey-free round in nine months on Thursday with birdies on the fourth, eighth, 10th, 13th, 14th and 16th holes before draining a two-metre downhill putt on No.18 to claim sole leadership for the first time in the tournament.
“It feels good to be there actually playing properly, not slashing the ball everywhere,” Woods said.
“I’m hitting the ball good.”
Putting with his eyes closed from close range, O’Malley collected half a dozen birdies in an unblemished second round of 66 to sit on Woods’ heels.
“I did not miss any putts with my eyes closed, which was nice,” O’Malley said.
Even more impressive was the fact the sweet-swinging 45-year-old hit all 18 greens in regulation in a superb display of ball striking.
Day, who turns 24 on Saturday, closed with back-to-back birdies for a 68 to ensure his first-ever two rounds playing alongside Woods were as memorable as he’d hoped.
“I have been dreaming about playing with Tiger for a long, long time. I finally got the chance and I am glad I played well too,” said Australia’s world No.7.
Watson (70) sits alone in fourth position, one stroke ahead of Watney (73) and Australians Matthew Jones (70) and first-round leader Jarrod Lyle, who crashed back to earth with a two-over 74.
Scott (71) and Johnson (75) are among a four-way group of players sharing eighth position at four-under, one in front of Senden (71) and Couples (74).
Defending champion Geoff Ogilvy and five-times winner Greg Norman both flirted with the cut before finishing with a flurry to assure themselves weekend action.
Ogilvy eagled the short par-5 17th in his 74 to be at even par, along with dual winner Aaron Baddeley (71), while Norman (74) is one-over after saving his round with birdies at the 14th and penultimate holes.
But Australia’s other Presidents Cup representative Robert Allenby missed the cut after following up his first-day 75 with a 73.
Matt Kuchar was the only American Presidents Cup player to miss the cut, although Hunter Mahan withdrew before his second round with neck and shoulder soreness.