Tiger Trails After Chances Go Astray

Tiger Woods fired a three-under-par 68 yesterday but missed a handful of birdie chances as he finished eight off the lead after the second round of the Phoenix tournament in Miyazaki, Japan.

Kaname Yokoo, a US Tour member for the past two seasons, had a bogey-free round of 65 and leads the way, four shots ahead of Sergio Garcia, who made birdies at three of his last four holes for a 68, Justin Rose, who handed in a 69 for a seven-under 135, and Burma's Zaw Moe, who got round in 67.

"A lot depends on what Kaname does now. He could put it out of reach for a lot of us," said Woods, who is making his third appearance in Japan.

"The game plan over the weekend will be the same - to be aggressive off the tee. I don't dislike my chances," Garcia said.

Rose, whose victory in the Chunichi Crowns tournament during May was one of four titles he has won this year, said: "Nobody wanted to talk to me yesterday and that's fine. But someone with four wins shouldn't be underestimated. I like playing in Japan, it suits me well and I'm in contention after two days."

In Taiwan, Maarten Lafeber of the Netherlands is in pole position to claim his maiden tour title after returning a second round of 66 to move four clear of Ireland's Padraig Harrington and Trevor Immelman of South Africa (136 and eight-under) in the Asian Open at the Ta Shee club.

America's Charles Howell III leads the 54-hole Australian Open after a five-under 65 despite having been 10-over after 14 holes of the first round which was later aborted because the Victoria club's greens were too fast to putt on. The US PGA champion Rich Beem was a stroke back along with the Australians Craig Parry, Steve Allan, Geoff Ogilvy and Chris Downes.