Tiger Woods repeated his opening-day 64 to move to 16 under and closer to his first victory of the year in the Dubai Desert Classic today after his second round - with Paul McGinley also posting 64 to lie best of the Irish.
Woods will now go into the third day only two in front of Dane Thomas Bjorn, however, who again showed he is not afraid of the American.
Indian Jeev Milkha Singh, battling for his European Tour future after being put out of the game by injury last year, is three further back in third place at 11 under.
Singh missed six months of last season with a wrist injury and after finishing 145th on the Order of Merit needed the goodwill of the tour to stay a member.
McGinley finshed joint fourth with Briton Brian Davis on 10 under after his second round, with fellow Irishman Eamonn Darcy one shot behind at nine under with Bradley Dredge.
Padraig Harrington has slipped back to join a group of players including Lee Westwood on eight under, with Colin Montgomerie and Darren Clarke trailing well behind on four under with the par five 18th to come.
After trailing Dane Thomas Bjorn for most of the second round, world number one Woods produced five back-nine birdies to reach halfway on the brilliant 16 under par total of 128. That is only three outside the European Tour record he set at the NEC World Championship last year.