Buick Invitational Classic

Woods' improved second round brought him into contention

Brad Faxon and Marco Dawson shared the second-round lead in the $4.5m Buick Invitational on Friday, with world number one Tiger Woods just two shots back.

Woods, playing his first event of 2003 after surgery in December, followed up his opening round 70 with a fine 66 to fire a warning that he is coming back to form.

Faxon and Dawson were both 10 under after two rounds, with Fred Funk, Jonathan Kaye, Dennis Paulson, Briny Baird and first-round leader Arron Oberholser on nine under.

Woods was accompanied by Neal Lancaster, Bob Tway and New Zealand's Steven Alker on eight under.

Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke was a shot further back after hitting a second round 69.

Leading scores

10 under: Marco Dawson Brad Faxon Nine under: Arron Oberholser Briny Baird Fred Funk Jonathan Kaye Dennis Paulson Eight under Steven Alker Bob Tway Tiger Woods Neal Lancaster

After completing his rain-delayed first round on the easier Torrey Pines North course, Woods lit up the South course for a six-under-par 66 that included a chip-in eagle at the par-five ninth, his last hole of the day.

"The pitch shot is something I've been working on because it's all I could do for a while," he said after the round.

"I had a pretty good feel for it, and I had to get up there and trust it. It came off great."

Dawson, 39, who has never won an event, continued his good form hitting a bogey-free 66 to follow up his opening 68.

"Last week I started making a few more putts," Dawson said.

"This week, I started to make some putts, and I felt real comfortable on my long putts.

Faxon, 42, said he was pleased the damp conditions had improved.

"We played eight holes in swampy conditions yesterday but it was perfect today," Faxon said.