Goosen & Izawa lead with 65's

As if atoning for the disastrous third round seven-over that dropped him out of the contention after he had led the PGA, Retief Goosen roared back with all his guns blazing to grab a share of the lead at the lucrative WGC NEC Invitational on Thursday.

The South African, often at his dangerous best after leading in the first round, shares the lead with Japan’s Toshi Izawa after both posted six-under 65s at picturesque, tree-lined Salahee.

American world top tenners Phil Mickelson and Davis Love III, and Northern Ireland’s seemingly back in form Darren Clarke are tied for third, one shot off the pace on 66.

England’s ambitious young Justin Rose, and two more Americans Steve Lowery and Kenny Perry share sixth place on four-under.

Clarke's 66 came as a direct result of being influenced by Rich Beem’s impressive win at Hazeltine.

"I had a good think after seeing Rich (Beem) win the PGA last week by going for it and changed my attitude," said Clarke

"A lot of guys tend to play the way Tiger plays and I got sucked into it as well. He's fantastic at it and it's why he's the world No 1, but I hate laying up a 100 yards short of greens at par fives and I've decided I might as well have a go."

Woods - bidding to become the first player since Walter Hagen in the 1920s to win the title four years in succession - is three off the lead, meanwhile, after double-bogeying the par-three 17th..

"I played solid all day," he said afterwards. "I just had one bad swing on 17, and a couple of bad putts. But I’m still in contention.”

And Rich Beem? The big-hitting Texan shot a unhappy three-over 74 after bogeying the second and third holes.

Goosen, meanwhile was praising his putter.

"I thought I had been playing well over the last few months, but I didn't really feel like I'd been putting very well," the 2001 US Open champion said after his bogey free round.

"Today, I struck the ball a lot more on line (on the green) than I have in the last few weeks, and gave myself more chances of it going in."

Japan's Izawa, a five-time winner on the Japanese tour last season, was the early pacesetter, posting seven birdies and a bogey in his opening salvo.

Among those bracketed with Woods on 68 were Europeans Thomas Bjorn, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood, who like Clarke, all showed welcoming signs of a return to form ahead of next month’s Ryder Cup at the Belfry.

Of the above-mentioned European stars, only Garcia missed last week’s PGA cut at Hazeltine

"Nobody likes playing poorly," said Westwood, a one-time world No 4 who has plummeted to 144 during a year of struggle and torment with his game.

"You want to at least take one a decent game into the Ryder Cup. Hopefully, by the time the Ryder Cup comes around, my game will be in good shape."

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