TOM LEHMAN extended his slim lead at the PGA Tour's season opening Mercedes Championship at Carlsbad, California, to two strokes by shooting a second round five under par 67 yesterday.

Lehman, who began the day with a one shot lead over Jim Furyk and Paul Goydos, enters the weekend play at 11 under par 133, two strokes better than Furyk, who played the La Costa Resort layout in 68.

Tiger Woods, Davis Love and Guy Boros were four strokes off the pace in a three way tie for third at seven under 137. Woods and Love each carded 67s, while Boros shot 68.

Goydos carded a one under 71 to fall five strokes back at 138, along with Corey Pavin, Tom Watson and Fred Couples.

Lehman had six birdies and one bogey.

"I played a lot better than I did yesterday, but I shot one stroke higher," Lehman said. "I'm still happy with my score and feel a lot better about my game, which is the most important thing."

Furyk's round was at its most active at the beginning and end. He birdied the second and fourth holes, and finished bogey, eagle, birdie on the final three coming in.

Furyk holed an eight iron from 138 yards for his eagle on the par five 17th hole.

"It was a boring round, except for the end," Furyk said. "I just played solid, and I'm in good position."

Woods fired a five birdie 31 on the front nine, and at one point was just a stroke off the lead. Two bogeys and two birdies on the back nine left him four shots adrift of Lehman.

Woods sank several good putts yesterday, with five of his seven birdies the result of putts between 15 and 18 feet, and one a chip in.

"I needed to shoot a good round and get back into the tournament and move up on the leaderboard, and I did it," Woods said. "I played well today."