Tiger Woods matched his own Sherwood Country Club course record on Friday with a 10-under 62 to take the lead in his World Challenge.
The world No.1, who started the day four shots off the lead, had 10 birdies and no bogeys for an 11-under total of 133 on the Californian course.
That gave him a two-shot lead over first-round leader Zach Johnson, who had four birdies in a four-under 68.
“It was good today,” said Woods, who has won this 18-man tournament he hosts for the benefit of his charitable foundation five times.
He set the course record of 62 in the second round in 2007, en route to one of those triumphs.
“I only made probably two putts that were downhill. I hit a lot of good shots, leaving myself in these spots so my putts weren’t really that difficult to make.”
Woods’ score was one shot off the best of his career. He has shot 61 four times, most recently in the second round of the WGC Bridgestone at Firestone in August – where he went on to win by seven strokes.
American Matt Kuchar carded a 68 to stand alone in third place – one stroke behind Johnson – heading into a weekend that could see rain move across the rolling countryside course, 64km west of Los Angeles.
“The next couple days, if the weatherman actually does get it right, we are going to have a hell of a test,” Woods said.
Former world No.1 Rory McIlroy, who captured his first win of 2013 just last week at the Australian Open, endured another tough day.
He carded a five-over 77 that included a double-bogey six at the par-four fourth and a quadruple-bogey nine at the par-five 16th.