Ernie
Els lifted himself out of his recent slump to hold a joint-share of the lead with
Michael Campbell after the second round of the Johnnie Walker Classic in Taiwan.
The softly-spoken South
African has collected a winners' cheque just once on the European Tour this year,
but the old magic came surging back as he went through 16 holes in five under.
The New Zealander Campbell
carded a second-round 71, one under par, to maintain his joint-lead, but world
No 1 Tiger Woods finally showed that a schedule that had seen him play back-to-back
tournaments in three different continents, was taking its toll as he dropped back
into the chasing pack.
Chasing
his fifth successive tournament win, he was never in control of his game and recorded
a level-par 72 to close the second day on four under, the same score as fellow
American Jim Furyk.
Swede Johan
Skold, who shared the lead with Campbell and Woods overnight, suffered a disappointing
73 to move to five under while Welshman Phillip Price followed his 68 yesterday
with a solid, if unspectacular, 72.
