Tiger Woods wasted no time stretching his lead to two shots when the American Express World Championship resumed at The Grove near Watford this morning.

Course record holder at the new venue after his opening eight-under-par 63, the world number one and defending champion hit a 74-yard pitch that landed way beyond the flag, but then spun back to 12 feet.

Conveniently for him, playing partner Darren Clarke was just two inches further away on virtually the same line and after the Ulsterman had holed his to improve to four under Woods made no mistake and went to nine under.

Padraig Harrington remained seven under after four opening pars and was still joint second with England's Ian Poulter, who was only just setting off again.

Woods' Ryder Cup partner Jim Furyk, meanwhile, birdied the 10th and 11th and moved into a tie for fourth on six under with another of the American side at the K Club, Stewart Cink, and South African Ernie Els.

The field was reduced to 60 when Canada's Stephen Ames and American Ben Crane both pulled out before teeing off again.

Ames had started with a two-over 73 and Crane was joint last on three over.

Following US Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman's withdrawal to attend today's funeral of Byron Nelson in Texas, Poulter was in a two-ball with Ernie Els again and at the long second they both cut Woods' lead back to one.

Poulter chipped close from left of the green, while Els, just short in two, holed from more than 50 feet for an eagle three.

Both were eight under as a result, while Harrington remained a shot back after five, with Woods still nine under after missing a 10-foot chance at the 12th.

There was a fairly stiff wind, but the course was in such excellent condition that more low scoring was expected.