MELBOURNE: Tiger Woods produced a topsy-turvy one-over par second round of 72 at the Australian Masters Friday, while Sergio Garcia completed a remarkable turnaround to soar into contention for a first win in two years. Defending champion Woods, who has not won since claiming the gold jacket at nearby Kingston Heath 12 months ago and could end the year without a title for the first time since turning professional in 1996, mixed three birdies with four bogeys to finish on one under 141. The American was nine shots behind Australia's Adam Bland, who followed his first round 65 with a four-under 67 in blustery, humid conditions to take a two-stroke lead over compatriot Andre Stolz (67). Spain's Garcia, who had a terrible first 16 holes Thursday before two late birdies allowed him to start the day at Victoria Golf Club on two over, soared up the leaderboard with a six-under 65 to finish on four-under 138. Woods, however, was having no such luck and while he began with a birdie on the 233-metre par-four first, he also produced bogeys at the par-four fifth and par-three seventh before he made a birdie on the 559-metre par-five ninth. The world No. 2 was then also slightly disrupted when playing partner Robert Allenby's wayward drive, that had drifted left on the 10th hole, hit a spectator on the head. The bloodied man, who was knocked to the ground and lay still for several minutes, was treated by medical staff and he managed to smile and wave to the crowd and an apologetic Allenby as he was taken away for further care. Scott leads In Singapore, Australia's Adam Scott took a two-stroke lead at the halfway mark of the Singapore Open Friday while defending champion Ian Poulter made his charge to lie in second spot before play was halted as darkness descended. US Open champion Graeme McDowell has also set himself nicely up for the weekend, carding a three-under 68 for a total of nine-under par 133 to tie for third with Swede Fredrik Andersson Hed and South Korea's Kang Kyung-nam. Poulter and Scott shook off any fatigue they had from having to play 30 gruelling holes, needing to complete their first round from Thursday when play was halted because of fading light. Rain had delayed Thursday's first-round action for four hours. In fact, the two men relished the chances offered by the par-71 Tanjong course at Sentosa Golf Club with Poulter carding the round's lowest score of eight-under 63 for a total 10-under 132. Starting the second round at two-under, Poulter put on a masterful display as he made eight birdies and saved his best for the final hole with a 100-feet putt. The flamboyant Englishman fancies his chances of lifting the trophy a second time Sunday but knows he has his work cut out on the tougher Serapong course where the last two rounds will be played. Scott, who was at the Tanjong course having played the Serapong in the first round, was pleased with his 65 to give him a total 12-under par 130 despite making two bogeys in the back nine. Kerr grabs lead In Mexico, American Cristie Kerr carded a tournament-record eight-under par 64 Thursday to take a three-stroke lead over Stacy Lewis in the LPGA Lorena Ochoa Invitational. Kerr, ranked third in the world, birdied nine of the first 15 holes at Guadalajara Country Club. She gave a stroke back with a bogey at 17 en route to her final total. Japanese star Ai Miyazato, US Women's Open champion Paula Creamer, South Korea's Na Yeon Choi and Australia's Katherine Hull were tied on 68, with South Koreans Hee Young Park and In-Kyung Kim a further shot back on 69. Michelle Wie, who won her first LPGA title here last year, struggled to a 78 before withdrawing with a back injury.
