Els vaults to top of leaderboard with 64

World number three Ernie Els fired a sparkling second-round eight-under-par 64 to move two shots clear in the WGC-American Express Championship on Friday.

The three-times major winner, who would replace Tiger Woods as the game's second-ranked player by winning this week, mixed nine birdies with a bogey to finish on 11-under 133 at a rain-sodden Mount Juliet.

In joint second place on nine-under were overnight leader Todd Hamilton of the United States and Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez, who both hit stunning recovery shots to save par on the 18th.

Fellow American Justin Leonard, the 1997 British Open champion, was a further stroke back after carding a second successive 68.

Champion Woods, who strained his shoulder last week after sleeping awkwardly on a flight to Orlando, dropped a shot at the last for a 70 to slip back into a share of ninth at six-under 138.

Level with Woods was another American, Brad Faxon, who holed out from 190 yards for an eagle at the par-four seventh on his way to a 68.

South African Els, back in action after a fortnight's break, was delighted with his performance in windswept and wet conditions.

"It's one of the better rounds I've played this year but leading right now doesn't mean much," he told reporters. "There's a lot of golf left.

"I can't say I fancy these conditions but, when it's like this it's a good opportunity to make something happen, to catch up.

"I knew it was going to be tough today as these were difficult conditions. But I got off to a perfect start, was off and running and kept it up. I putted really well."

Els, who carded a 69 in his opening round, hit his approach at the par-three third to two feet and holed a curling 25-foot birdie putt at the fourth to get to seven under overall.

Further birdies followed at nine and 10 before the big-hitting South African dropped his only shot of the day at the par-three 11th, where he pulled his tee shot to the left of the green.

He rallied, however, with birdies on 14, 15 and 17 and saved par at the tough last, where he drove into the right rough, to stay ahead of the chasing pack.

Woods, after battling through severe back pain for a 68 to stay in touch with the first-day lead, seemed to be more comfortable in the second round.

He collected three birdies for an outward three-under 33 but faltered after the turn, a mix of two bogeys and birdie at the par-five 17th leaving him at six under for the tournament.

The world number two, who lost his top ranking to Fiji's Vijay Singh three weeks ago, is bidding for a third successive WGC-American Express Championship crown, and a fourth overall.

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