体坛英语新闻：Woods ties record with 63, grabs two-shot lead

TULSA, Oklahoma, Aug 10 - Tiger Woods tied a major championship record with a spectacular 63 in charging to a two-stroke lead over fellow American Scott Verplank in the second round of the U.S. PGA Championship on Friday.

Woods came agonisingly close to setting the all-time low round in a major as his putt for birdie at the 18th hole spun out of the cup leaving him to tap in for par.

"I knew if I made that putt on the last hole, it would have been a nice little record to have," world number one Woods said about missing the birdie putt for 62. "But I guess 62 and a half is all right."

The remarkable round lifted Woods to six-under-par 134, two strokes better than Verplank, who shot a bogey-free round of 66.

Australian Geoff Ogilvy (68) and Canadian Stephen Ames (69) were tied at 137.

The 31-year-old American became the 21st player to shoot a 63 in one of the four major championships and the 10th to do so in a PGA Championship.

Greg Norman and Vijay Singh have both twice shot 63s in majors, and Thomas Bjorn of Denmark was the last to achieve it, posting the score in the third round of the 2005 PGA at Baltusrol.

SWELTERING DAY

World number one Woods, who stood six strokes off the pace after posting a one-over-par 71 in the opening round, scorched the Southern Hills layout late on another sweltering day with eight birdies against a lone bogey.

Woods made three birdies in his first five holes before taking a bogey-five at the seventh where he had an awkward lie in a greenside bunker.

From the ninth hole, he caught fire again, pouring in putts in a burst of scoring that saw him bag five birdies in an electrifying, seven-hole stretch.

It was the lowest round by Woods in a major, topping his 64 during the 1997 British Open at Royal Troon.

Gunning for his first major crown since last year's PGA, Woods largely ignored his driver and focused on placing the ball. He was deadly on the greens, needing just 24 putts.

"All day I was in control of my shots and controlling my trajectory," he said.

Woods rolled in 20-footers at the fourth and 15th holes. He made a 35-foot par-saving putt at 12 and chipped in for birdie at 14. At the ninth he hit an eight-iron to one foot. He blasted out to within two feet of the cup from a bunker at 13.

When the magic finally left him on his 15-foot putt at 18, Woods turned his back on the hole and dropped his putter.

"I was mad. I hit a good putt and thought I made it."

Before Woods's remarkable charge, local favourite Verplank grabbed the spotlight.

The U.S. Ryder Cup veteran, who attended nearby Oklahoma State University and lives in the area, showed his cool with four birdies in the 100-degree heat.

HARD TO CATCH

"Yesterday and today I hit the ball as good as I've ever hit it," he told reporters.

The lead was up for grabs early when overnight pacesetter Graeme Storm of Britain slumped to a six-over-par 76.

John Daly, second overnight after an opening 67, bogeyed his first two holes and finished with 73 for even-par 140.

Past form indicates Woods will be hard to catch.

All seven times he has led at the half-way mark of a major he has won, and all six majors held at Southern Hills have been claimed by a player who led or shared the 36-hole lead.

"It certainly does give you confidence," Woods said. "It's just a matter of going out there and doing it. I hope that I can play even better."

Seventy-two players made the cut, which was set at five over par.

Among those missing the cut by one stroke were former PGA champions Vijay Singh and Davis Love and former U.S. Open winner Jim Furyk.