Singh flies into lead with birdies
KAPALUA, Hawaii (Reuters) -- Fiji's Vijay Singh rode a wave of birdies into the second-round lead at the PGA Tour's season-opening Mercedes Championships.
The 2003 PGA Tour money leader made seven consecutive birdies to finish off a nine-under-par 64 at the Plantation Course to give him a 14-under-par 132 total.
Singh heads the 30-player field by one shot over first-round leader Stuart Appleby of Australia, who shot a six-under-par 67.
Four shots behind Singh at 10-under-par is Britain's Darren Clarke after posting a four-under-par 69. Kirk Triplett (69) is fourth place at nine under.
World number one Tiger Woods had a double-bogey, bogey start to his round, but recovered to shoot a three-under-par 70 and is nine shots behind Singh.
Defending champion Ernie Els made up for his even-par 73 in Thursday's first round by shooting a three-under-par 70 and is at three-under 143.
Singh began his second round with chances to close the two-stroke gap Appleby had opened on the world No. 2 in the opening round -- but slipped five shots behind at the turn.
"I was disappointed with the front nine, obviously," Singh said of his outward one-under-par 35.
"I had a lot of chances. I bogeyed the sixth hole, which everybody was birdying."
After nine holes, Singh told his caddie that if he continued to play solid, he might get into the clubhouse at three, maybe four-under-par.
Singh could not have expected his long putter to awake as he shot an eight-under 29 with birdies on holes 12 through 18 for the lowest round of the championship.
"I tried too hard yesterday," Singh said of his putting in his five-under 68 round on Thursday.
"I went out there today and said 'Let's just hit your lines, not try to really make putts, just hit your lines and stroke them."'
Needing just 25 putts in the second round, Singh continues a hot run of form that dates back to the end of the 2003 season.
In Singh's final eight starts of 2003, he finished no lower than tied for sixth, including wins at the John Deere Classic and the Funai Classic.
Appleby quietly followed up his first-round 66 with a solid 67 including four straight birdies on the front nine and then a fifth at the 10th hole.
Two bogeys including a wayward drive on the 14th hole that required a second tee shot, ultimately cost Appleby the lead.
