Tiger Woods watches his shot on the 18th hole during the second day of the Champions golf tournament in Shanghai, Nov. 10, 2006. (Reuters Photo)

After a five-week vacation from competitive golf, Woods opened Thursday with an even par to fall seven shots off the lead. Friday the world's No. 1 golfer carded one eagle and seven birdies to close within two shots of India's Jyoti Randhawa and one of Retief Goosen..

"I missed a few actually, it's kind of scary when you shoot an eight-under-par, but I did miss a few out there," Woods said. "Maybe I could have gone two or three (lower), maybe," he added.

"It's close to what I was at Amex-- and that was the best ball-striking week all year," Woods said. "It's close to that, so it's close to the best ball-striking of the year."

Woods won the WGC-American Express Championship by eight strokes on Oct. 1 for his sixth straight PGA Tour victory.

Randhawa, the overnight leader, mixed six birdies with three bogeys for 69 and a two-round total of 10-under 134.

Goosen birdied three of his first four holes and finished with three straight for a 67.

Woods was tied with 2005 U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell, who had a 70, and one ahead of Scotland's Marc Warren, Chawalit Plaphol of Thailand and European No. 1 Padraig Harrington.

Sweden's Henrik Stenson had eight birdies in a bogey-free round to set the record for the Sheshan International Golf Club at 64 earlier Friday. He was tied for 17th at 4-under.

No. 2-ranked Jim Furyk had a 66 on Friday to move into a share of 10th at 5-under, tied with Colin Montgomerie.

The 5 million U.S. dollar tournament is the first event on the PGA European Tour's 2007 schedule. The event also is sanctioned by the China Golf Association and the Asian, Australasian and Sunshine tours.

(Agencies)