MIAMI — Looking fully in charge of his game, Tiger Woods fired an outstanding seven-under-par 65 to open up a two-shot lead over Graeme McDowell after the second round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship Friday. Woods has 17 birdies from his opening 36 holes for the first time in a PGA Tour event, helped by some outstanding work on the greens on the Blue Monster course at Doral. “It felt like I finally got into a feeling where I needed to have it,” said the world No. 2 of his round. Woods stands at 13-under for the tournament with Northern Ireland's McDowell two strokes back in second place after a bogey-free 65 in good scoring conditions. McDowell has not made a bogey in his 36 holes so far and, unlike his compatriot and world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, looks very much at ease with his game. McIlroy, however, will take heart from a much more solid display Friday, his three-under 69 contained six birdies but was slightly spoiled by three-putting for a bogey on the 18th. The world No. 1 looked far more comfortable from the tee in particular but paid the price for some sloppy work on and around the greens. Tied in 32nd place and at two-under for the tournament, McIlroy is 11 shots off the lead but will take some comfort after breaking 70 for the first time this year. Phil Mickelson also put himself firmly in contention with a 67 that leaves him three strokes off the lead and in a share of third place with fellow American Steve Stricker (67). Masters champion Bubba Watson (69) and Sweden's Freddie Jacobson (69) were a further shot back, at nine-under. But if Woods can replicate his Friday form he has a great chance of adding to his January victory at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. Lahiri defends title Anirban Lahiri of India prevailed in yet another playoff at the Delhi Golf Club (DGC) to retain his SAIL-SBI Open title in New Delhi Saturday. Lahiri birdied his last regulation hole from 10 feet to tie Rashid Khan at 15-under-par 273 and sank a four-foot birdie on the same hole to clinch his third Asian Tour title, all three coming via playoffs and at the DGC. Lahiri's love affair with the par-72 course began in 2011 when he triumphed in a three-way playoff to win the Panasonic Open before returning to pip Prom Meesawat of Thailand in the playoff in last year's SAIL-SBI Open. Siddikur Rahman of Bangladesh went one-over-par 73 to finish four strokes behind. Local favorite Shiv Kapur was further one shot behind after signing off with a two-under-par 70. Thailand's Pawin Ingkhapradit and Australian rookie Matthew Stieger ended in tied fifth place. — Agencies
