“I want the lead after the four days,” Woods said after he completed play with the round of 67 and a total of 8-under par. “Two days is nice, but four days is even better.”

Once again Santa Ana winds that blow from the desert toward the ocean were an issue for the all competitors.

"It's hard to figure out exactly where it's coming from," said Kuchar after posting  five under par 67 with seven birdies and two bogeys. 

K.J. Choi signed for a 71, despite a quadruple bogey on the par 3, 15th hole, where his ball went in the water twice.

He blamed his poor performance on not getting a good night’s sleep. “I just need to get my condition back. There's still a lot of holes to play, so I'm looking forward to it.”

Woods was five under in round two despite a tee shot into the rocks and water, like Choi, also at the scenic, par three 15th hole. He also missed a short par putt at the 17th and landed in a sandy divot in the 18th fairway. He had a little of everything: two eagles, five birdies, a two bogeys and a double.

Woods’ most visually dramatic mistake was the 15th where he hit the rocks and splashed left.

Regarding his putting stroke, Woods is now using the reverse overlap grip.

“In Australia I was missing putts, and my shoulders were slightly open, so I'm trying to do anything I can to basically get my shoulders square,” Woods explained. “I like to putt with my right hand, release that toe as much as I possibly can.”

Woods’ play was great news for the world’s former number one. Through two rounds, he was first in driving accuracy and first in putting. He was also first in greens in regulation.

“To put it simply, today he played like an artist,” Choi said about Woods.