Nick Watney, trying to keep the momentum of his recent Malaysian victory going into 2013, seized a two-shot lead on Thursday in the World Challenge Invitational hosted by Tiger Woods.

Watney, who finished last in the field of 18 in this unofficial event last season, had five birdies in his bogey-free, five-under 67 at Sherwood Country Club and was two strokes in front of Keegan Bradley, Graeme McDowell and Jim Furyk.

Australian Jason Day was tied for eighth after carding a 71 at the Californian course.

Bradley hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation, his only miscue of the day a bogey at 18.

The American, whose 2011 PGA Championship triumph made him the first player to win one of golf’s major titles using a long putter anchored on his midriff, admitted he was fired up by the reaction to Wednesday’s announcement by global governing bodies the Royal & Ancient and the US Golf Association that they proposed to ban the technique in 2016.

“I’ve been catching such flak on Twitter and these other places, it would be good to kind of quiet them a little bit,” Bradley said.

“I had a guy yesterday telling me to send my application in to Burger King for 2016.”

Woods, who hosts the event for the benefit of his charitable foundation, was tied for fifth on 70, alongside Bo Van Pelt and US Open champion Webb Simpson.

Woods won here last year to end a two-year global victory drought, then won three US PGA Tour titles in 2012.

However, the tournament host admitted he’d need to hit it better as the week progressed.

“I didn’t hit it very good today,” said Woods, who had three birdies and just one bogey. “It was nice to scrape out a good score.”