STEVE JONES fired a seven-under-par 64 yesterday to extend his lead in the Phoenix Open to five strokes and go 16 under par after two rounds, equalling the best start on the PGA Tour.

He is the fifth PGA player to shoot 126 in a tournament's first 36 holes. David Duval and Tommy Tolles shot six-under par scores of 65 to stand five strokes back.

One stroke further back at 10 under par were Sweden's Jesper Parnevik, who shot 66, and Paul Azinger, whose 63 was his lowest score since he was diagnosed with cancer in 1993.

Tiger Woods was tied for 12th place at six under par, 10 strokes behind Jones, after his second successive round of 68.

Jones nearly missed his tee time on Thursday, and slightly overcompensated by arriving four minutes early yesterday.

Jones had his only bogey of the tournament on the second hole, a three-putt from 25 feet. He scored most effectively on the back nine, where he shot a five-under 31. He made birdies on the 13th, 14th and 17th holes, and sank a 20-foot putt for eagle on the 15th.

After his 63, Paul Azinger said that his game was the closest to its 1993 level - when he won the PGA Championship - that it has been since his illness.

"I've been playing well for a few months now," he said. "I was 46 under par for my last 12 rounds last year. I didn't compete in the off-season, but I worked a lot on my game. Tiger is, forcing all of us to practise more."

. John McHenry carded a level-par 70 to move into a tie for 33rd place on 142 when the halfway stage of the Wild Coast Challenge was reached yesterday. The leader on 132 was 22-year-old South African Desvonde Botes, who had a second successive 66. He has a two-shot lead over Mark McNulty.