Thursday, Nov. 05, 2009

Woods and Watney lead HSBC Champions

Tiger Woods chipped in for one of his six birdies in a five-under 67 Friday that gave him a share of the lead with Nick Watney at the HSBC Champions.

Making his third trip to China for this event, where he was a runner-up in his two previous starts, Woods had a 67 for the second straight day on the Sheshan International course.

Both Woods and Watney (70), who was the overnight leader after a course record-tying 64 in the first round, birdied the 18th hole on Friday to reach 10-under 134.

There is plenty of high-wattage talent hot on their heels, including Phil Mickelson, the 2007 champion who fired a six-under 66 to move within a shot of the lead.

Long-hitting Alvaro Quiros of Spain was the top non-American on the leaderboard with a 66 that moved him into a tie with Mickelson and Ryan Moore (69) at nine-under 135.

Anthony Kim, coming off a second-place finish at the World Match Play Championship, had a 69 and was alone at eight-under 136.

Pat Perez (69) stood at seven-under 137 and yet another American, Brian Gay (69), was tied with India's Jyoti Randhawa (70) at six-under 138.

In its first year as part of the World Golf Championships -- and the PGA Tour schedule -- the co-sanctioned event has attracted an elite field this week with top stars from all over the globe.

MORE TO FOLLOW.