Tiger Woods took a two shot lead at the World Challenge at the Sherwood Country Club in California last night, with a course record equalling 10 under par 62.

Zach Johnson, who had been the overnight leader, moves down to second place following a 68 while Matt Kuchar is one further back. Graeme McDowell is fourth on 5 under, having scored 67 yesterday to add to his par 72 on Friday. The Northern Irishman hit a bogey free round with 5 birdies.

Rory McIlroy’s tournament winning form of last week, when he won his first tournament of the year at the Australian Open, has not carried over to this weekend. McIlroy shot 77 yesterday, including a 9 on the 16th, and finished the day on 6 over, 17 shots off the lead.

Should he win Woods will take a record sixth victory and his sixth win of the 2013. It is the tenth time the world number one has scored 62 or lower in his career and 62 round of Woods’ career.

"It was good today," said after his round. "I certainly hit it good, obviously.

"But I left myself in some good spots most of the day. I had probably only two putts that were downhill, most of them were uphill."

Kuchar expressed sympathy for McDowell playing alongside Woods in such imperious form: "I saw he posted a five-under-par round, and it must have felt like it was two or three over. It's tough when you're paired with a guy like Tiger. It makes you feel like you're not doing much. But the rest of us just go about our business.

"To the rest of us, my four-under score is kind of a good barometer. Ten under is an amazing round of golf but I'd certainly take two more rounds of four-under par."

World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club, California Leaderboard

-11: T Woods (US)

- 9: Z Johnson (US)

-8: M Kuchar (US)

-5: G McDowell (NI)

-4: B Watson (US)

+6 R McIlroy (NI)

Image:Tiger Woods

leads after a record equalling round of 62 ©INPHO/Getty Images