PEBBLE BEACH, February 11, 2012 (AFP) - Charlie Wi maintained his lead at the halfway point of the Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Friday, shooting a second round three-under 69, but Tiger Woods remains poised to strike.
The 40-year-old South Korean began the day tied for the lead with two others after a tournament-record 61 on Thursday and he picked up in the second round right where he left off.
"I have some experience playing with the lead," Wi said. "I took the approach today by telling myself that this is just a new day and whatever happened yesterday that I was going to put it behind me and just start fresh."
Playing the par-72 Pebble Beach Links course, Wi birdied two of his first six holes and had an eagle on the back nine to reach a 36-hole total of 12-under 130.
He was three strokes ahead of American Dustin Johnson who shared the first-round lead with Wi and Danny Lee of New Zealand. Johnson is alone in second after shooting an even-par 72 on Spyglass Hill.
Lee, Ireland's Padraig Harrington, Vijay Singh of Fiji, Brian Gay and Brendon Todd were all tied for third at eight-under.
Woods kept pace but didn't gain any real ground on the leaders with his two-under 68 on the par-70 Monterey Peninsula course, considered the easiest of the three courses in the rotation.
Woods, who shot a 68 at Spyglass on Thursday, was tied for 17th, six strokes adrift of Wi. Woods still feels he left something out there.
"I hit it well I just didn't give myself exact right looks today," said Woods. "I was above the hole or had some downhill breaking putts. With the greens getting bumpy you just have to be aggressive."
Woods said he hurt a joint on his wrist on a tricky fairway shot out of a divot on the eighth hole.
"Once I popped it back in it was good. Just a joint, no big deal," Woods said. "I was in a divot on an uphill slope and it was a tough combo."
Scores on Friday weren't as low as the first round which was played in sun-splashed, windless conditions.
An unexpected heavy mist and cooler temperatures moved in quickly in the afternoon on Friday.
"Yesterday the weather was unbelievable and today this," said Singh. "Coming in today was difficult with this rain and mist or whatever you call it."
Singh played Spyglass on Friday, shooting his second straight 68 on the two more difficult courses, so now has the luxury of playing Monterey in the third round.
"I got Monterey. I like that golf course. We will see if I can shoot a few more under and get in position for Sunday," Singh said.
Leading second-round scores in the $6.4 million Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on Friday on the par-72 Pebble Beach Golf Links, par-70 Monterey Peninsula Country Club, par-72 Spyglass Hill Country Club (USA unless noted):
12-under
130 - Charlie Wi (KOR) 61-69
9-under
135 - Dustin Johnson 63-72
8-under
134 - Brian Gay 69-65, Padraig Harrington (IRL) 68-66
136 - Vijay Singh (FIJ) 68-68, Danny Lee (NZL) 63-73, Brendon Todd 67-69
7-under
135 - Josh Teater 64-71, Hunter Mahan 65-70, Greg Owen (ENG) 68-67, Jason Kokrak 68-67, Phil Mickelson 70-65, Kevin Na 66-69
137 - Brian Harman 64-73, Ken Duke 64-73
6-under
136 - Ryan Moore 72-64, Tiger Woods 68-68, Richard Lee 65-71, Ricky Barnes 70-66
5-under
137 - Robert Garrigus 68-69, D.A. Points 72-65 Rocco Mediate 71-66, Jimmy Walker 69-68, Bob Estes 67-70
139 - Jonas Blixt (SWE) 70-69, Roland Thatcher 71-68