American Brandt Jobe forged two shots clear in the Buick Invitational second round as champion Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson finally began to stir.
Jobe, co-leader overnight with Frenchman Thomas Levet, carded a five-under 67 in bright sunshine at Torrey Pines to finish at 12-under 132. The 39-year-old journeyman, yetto win on the PGA Tour, recovered from a bogey-bogey start after teeing off at the par-four 10th on the difficult South Course.
He birdied 13, eagled the par-five 18th after hitting a 265-yard second shot to just 12 feet and picked up further strokes on one, two, six and nine. "I drove the ball well and it's a good position to be in," Jobe said. "But if we looked at how many guys had the 36-hole lead and won the tournament last year, it probably wouldn't be a great number.
"I've got to continue to do the same things I've been doing. It's a tough golf course and the greens are tough to putt."
South African Tim Clark was tied for second at 10 under after shooting a 66 at the easier North Course, the other par-72 layout hosting the tournament. Level with Clark was Sweden's Jesper Parnevik, who carded a six-birdie 67 at the same venue.
Most of the attention from the large galleries, however, focused on world number one Woods, who rallied with a 68 at the South Course. In danger of missing the cut after opening with a 71, the game's leading player got to seven under with a stirring charge over the first 13 holes.
Chasing his fourth victory in eight years at Torrey Pines, Woods eagled the par-five 13th after powering his tee shot 342 yards, reaching the green in two and holing a 60-foot putt.
However, he lost momentum with bogeys on 14 and 16 and finished on five under.
Left-hander Mickelson, like Woods chasing a fourth Buick Invitational title, vaulted up the leaderboard into a share of 12th place with a 67. The twice major winner reeled off seven birdies and two bogeys for a 36-hole total of six-under 138.
