Jimenez extends lead to two

Overnight leader Miguel Jimenez, fighting pain from a knee injury, increased his lead in the European Tournament Players Championship on Friday to set Tiger Woods a stiff target.

Jimenez, one ahead of the field at the start of the second round, added a three-under-par 69 to move to eight-under-par 136, two strokes better than Irishman Paul McGinley who posted a 65 with eight birdies.

World number one Woods began his afternoon round six strokes behind Jimenez, the man he beat in a play-off last year at Valderrama for the World Golf Championship title.

South Africa's Retief Goosen and American Bob May are three shots behind Spain's Jimenez.

Jose Maria Olazabal moved up the field with a blistering 65 during which he chipped in for an eagle and ran up seven birdies. He shares fifth place on 140, five days after winning the Benson and Hedges International in England.

Jimenez, 36, produced a strong finish, chipping in for a birdie four holes from home and then stroking in a 35ft putt.

However, his three birdies in five holes before the turn set up his lead, coming soon after his knee pain eased.

"I felt a sharp pain inside my knee not when I walked so much but when I took up my stance. So it was a worry at first, especially as it happened a couple of times last week.

"But by the seventh or eighth holes it had gone. I've no idea what it is but I suppose I'd better get it looked at by the tour's physio unit."

Jimenez was trying not to focusing exclusively on the top player in the world.

"Tiger Woods is a great player but there are a lot of quality players in the field, so it's no good me just focusing on one.

"I'll be aware of them all, but I'm playing my own game and worrying about how I play, not them."

Olazabal, reporting another good driving day, was lifted by his round. "I felt pretty flat before I played after such a bad first round score, when I'd won only a few days before.

"But it's a strange game and sometimes maybe you need to feel flat to push yourself to play well."

Colin Montgomerie was dismayed by another poor putting round. But he was happy to make the cut after slipping two-over early in his round before recovering to a 70 for 143.

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