JAPAN TOUR: Tiger Woods vaulted into the lead at the Dunlop Phoenix tournament with Ireland's Padraig Harrington in close pursuit after the second round in Japan.

Woods, boosted by an early eagle, compiled a five-under-par 65 in benign conditions at Phoenix Country Club, moving within sight of his third successive victory in the event.

Englishman Ian Poulter carded 64 to move within two shots of the lead, while first-round leader Shingo Katayama of Japan stumbled with a mediocre 70 that left him three shots back.

But all eyes were on Woods, who delighted his overflowing gallery with the sort of performance that suggests he is not far away from the form he displayed to win his final six starts of the season on the PGA Tour.

Harrington went to the turn in 33 with birdies at the fourth and ninth, and despite dropping his only shot of the round at the 11th, birdied the 13th, 16th and 18th in an inward half of 33.

EUROPEAN TOUR: Jose Manuel Lara topped the leaderboard with a 10-under-130 after the second round of the UBS Hong Kong Open yesterday.

The Spaniard carded just one bogey in a round of 66 where he also shot five birdies to move one shot clear of nearest rival, Frenchman Gregory Bourdy.

Bourdy carded a faultless round that included four birdies to complete a four-under-par 66 and is nine under.

Three players are tied in third place at eight under, Juvic Pagunsan, Andrew Buckle and Zhang Lian-wei while Indian duo Jeev Milkha Sing and Jyoti Randhawa are both tied at sixth on seven under.

Damien McGrane and Peter Lawrie are well in touch with the leader. McGrane carded a four-under-par 66 for a 134 total while Lawrie also hit the birdie trail with a 66 for 135.

Paul McGinley failed to make the red in either of the first two rounds, carding a one-over-par 71 in his opening round and a three-over 73 yesterday saw him miss the cut by four shots. Five bogeys and a double bogey summed up a disappointing day for the Dubliner.

Perhaps the surprise of the tournament is that Retief Goosen failed to make the cut for the weekend after poor displays in the first two rounds.

The South African made par in his opening round but failed to improve yesterday when he carded a one-over-par 71, meaning he misses the cut by one shot.

Defending champion Colin Montgomerie made a marked improvement on Thursday's first round showing to card a four-under-par 66.

Montgomerie shot five birdies and one bogey and is on a five-under-par 135 going into the final two rounds this weekend.

PGA: Robert Giles, the professional at Greenore, posted a sizzling 66 third round to help Ireland's three-man team move to second place entering today's closing round of the Glenmuir PGAs of Europe international team golf championship at the Roda Beach course at Murcia, Spain.

Ashbourne's John Dwyer and Leslie Walker of Dundalk returned their best day total of 136, for a 412 total and four strokes behind steady pacesetters Scotland - represented by Craig Lee, Sam Cairns and Jim McKinnon.

Giles followed up a pair of 67s with the 66. Dwyer posted 70.

Norway are lying third in the team event on 416 - four shots adrift of second-placed Ireland, and one shot ahead of fourth-placed Wales.

LPGA: Ai Miyazato of Japan fired a second round three-under-par 69 for a halfway total of 137 and a two-shot lead in the ADT Championships tournament in West Palm Beach, Florida, yesterday.

Miyazato, on seven-under-par 137, leads by two from Julieta Granada with Natalie Gulbis and Karrie Webb sharing third place on 140.

CLARKE OUT: Darren Clarke has pulled out of next month's Australian PGA Championship at Coolum.

The Dungannon man's wife died of cancer in August and after helping Europe to win the Ryder Cup and playing two other tournaments, Clarke wants to be with his children.

"He's emotionally exhausted and he needs to spend time at home with his children," tournament spokesman John Dunlop said.