Woods avoids missing cut

Tiger Woods, who has never missed two successive cuts in his career, avoided that fate with a four under par 67 in the second round of the Cialis Western Open in Illinois today.

Down in 82nd place after a one over par opening 72 the world number one, playing just his second event since the Masters and the death of his father, had moved up over 50 places midway through the day's play.

On three under par, however, three-time winner Woods was seven strokes adrift of Swede Daniel Chopra, who moved clear of the field with a dramatic inward half of 30.

Chopra packed seven birdies and a bogey into the nine holes and finished his second successive 66 by holing a 50-foot bunker shot.

Woods, who crashed out of the US Open with back-to-back 76s, birdied four of his first six holes. He then bogeyed the 16th, but added another birdie on the next, turned in 32 and parred the entire front nine.

Playing partner Luke Donald, who finished his first round 70 with a double bogey, battled back into contention with a 67. On five under he was in a tie for fifth spot after a round that contained seven birdies, but also three bogeys.

Chopra led by two from world number three Vijay Singh (67), with South African Trevor Immelman one further back after a 66.

Masters champion Phil Mickelson was among the later starters. He stood four under overnight in his first appearance since losing the US Open with a closing double bogey.