Randhawa in tied eighth, four shots behind leader Woods

SHANGHAI - Jyoti Randhawa stayed in the top-10, even as Tiger Woods moved into a familiar pole position at the WGC-HSBC Champions here Friday.

Randhawa who was the highest-placed Asian in the field, added a two-under 70 to his first round 68 to go one place up to tied-eighth at six-under 138. Randhawa was four shots behind Woods into a tie for lead with Nick Watney after shooting a second straight five-under-par 67.

Woods had a frustrating front nine but stormed home with four birdies at Sheshan International Golf Club to lead with overnight leader Watney, who returned a 70, on 10-under-par 134.

It was mixed going for the other three Indians as Chinnaswamy Muniyappa (69) went up from tied 57th to tied 37th, at one-under 143. Jeev Milkha Singh (72) was tied 45th at one-over and Gaganjeet Bhullar had five bogeys before a last hole birdie for a 76 and he was tied 70th.

The first nine places were dominated by Americans, as Phil Mickelson (66) moved into third one behind Woods and Watney. Seven of the first nine were Americans, with the only exception being Alvaro Quiros of Spain who shot a 66 to be tied with Mickelson in third and Jyoti Randhawa in tied eighth.

Randhawa, who enjoyed a top-10 at the HSBC Champions in 2006, mixed his card with four birdies against two bogeys. It was a welcome return to form for the Indian, who won the Singha Thailand Open earlier this year on the Asian Tour but failed to maintain his momentum.

“I need to putt better than this. The greens are tricky but guys are holing putts. It’s a putting contest now. Whoever putts more is going to win because the greens are very tricky,” he said.

On his play so far, he said, “I was trying to move up and do good. So getting into good position in two days, it does help you focus better. I hit a few bad, ones but I also hit a few good ones.”

“I need to putt better than this. The greens are tricky but guys are holing putts. It’s a putting contest now. Whoever makes a lot of putts is going to win because the greens are very tricky.”

Asia’s first World Golf Championship was headed for a thriller as 2007 HSBC Champions winner Mickelson carded a bogey-free 66 for a share of third place alongside big-hitting Quiros and American Ryan Moore.

Anthony Kim, finalist at Volvo World Match Play, was sixth at eight-under, and Pat Perez (69) was seventh one shot behind.

Randhawa kept up his title hopes in tied eighth place with American Brian Gay.

Playing alongside Woods, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, the current Asian Tour number one, battled to a 69 for a 140 total and remained confident of improving his position over the weekend.

Woods put himself in prime position to win his 17th WGC event and seventh title of the year. He needed to stay patient after turning in 35 with two birdies and a bogey but found his stride with four birdies coming home, including one at the last which saw him tie Watney.

“I got off to a good start and birdied the very first hole. But after that, I didn’t really make any putts. I had certainly some looks and did not really capitalise on anything. I made a putt at nine and from then on, I hit a lot of good putts and basically played the last 10 holes at five-under,” said Woods, who was runner-up here in 2005 and 2006.