Tiger extends lead after second 65

Tiger Woods fired a second successive round of seven-under-par 65 to strengthen his grip on the WGC-American Express Championship on Friday, moving two strokes clear of the elite 64-man field.

The 1999 champion, one ahead overnight after a course-record 65, collected seven birdies in a blemish-free display to finish at 14-under 130 in calm conditions at Mount Juliet.

Bidding to win the sixth World Golf Championship (WGC) title of his career, Woods was in unflappable mood, finding fairways and greens with regularity in an impressive display of precision golf.

His one weakness of the previous day -- his driving -- had been rectified, but he said he was capable of playing even better.

"Today I definitely drove the ball a little bit better," said Woods, who is also chasing his sixth victory of the year. "I felt more confident with my tee shots.

"I hit my irons like I did yesterday and I putted like I did yesterday -- all in all, I'm very pleased with the way I'm playing."

"But can I play better than this? Yes, I could," added the reigning U.S. Masters and U.S. Open champion.

Fellow American Jerry Kelly was alone in second place at 12-under 132 after reeling off eight birdies and one bogey for a course-record equaling 65.

"I kind of broke through a little bit, I think, with yesterday's round (of 67)," said Kelly.

"I played extremely conservative to some tough pins and made a whole bunch of birdies and no bogeys.

"I played the same today, and I was confident because I hit where I wanted to -- even when I shot away from the pins. it was very calm out there for me."

A further stroke back in a tie for third were 2001 U.S. PGA champion David Toms and fellow American Steve Lowery, who both carded 67s, while Retief Goosen, last year's U.S. Open winner, carded a second 67 to lie fifth at 10 under.

Ernie Els, who won this year's British Open at Muirfield, was another shot back in a share of sixth, his 67 drawing him level with Australia's Stuart Appleby (66) and England's Gary Evans (68).

"I really feel like I'm hitting the ball better this week," said Els, who has tied for 23rd in his last two European Tour starts.

"My mind is a little better this week and I fell I can have a good weekend."

Earlier David Duval, the 2001 British Open champion, birdied the last three holes for a 65 of his own, matching Woods's effort on Thursday as he rocketed into a share of sixth place at seven-under 136.

Duval, whose superb round provided a welcome confidence boost for the U.S. at next week's Ryder Cup, was level with seven others including 1997 U.S. PGA champion Davis Love III (67) and twice major winner Vijay Singh of Fiji (69).

"I didn't have a chance to make a mistake today, and that's how I like to play when I'm playing good," said the Florida-based professional.

"That makes me feel good about today, as much as anything. I played smart and I hit 17 greens."

Seventeen of the 24 Ryder Cup players set for next week's showdown at The Belfry are in the Mount Juliet field, and the Americans fared better on day two.

Of the 10 U.S. players taking part, nine finished below par with five of them filling the top 10 spots after the second round.

Six of the seven Europeans were at two under par or better but Sweden's Niclas Fasth, the highest placed, was tied for 17th after scores of 68 and 69.

The WGC-American Express Championship, which carries a total prize fund of $5.5 million, is the third World Golf Championship event of the year after February's WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship and last month's WGC-NEC Invitational.

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