Day 2 (10/11/00)

Best view inside ropes

Japan's Hidemichi Tanaka was just a "spectator" but still managed to move to within two shots of the lead at the halfway stage of the World Golf Championships - American Express Championhip at Valderrama. Asked what it meant to him playing in the same field as Tiger Woods, the third-ranked Japan Golf Tour player admitted "I want his autograph." He had been 79th in his only previous appearance in a top-category tournament in 2000, the US PGA, and said he was using the experience of playing with American Steve Flesch, ranked 46th in the world, to gain valuable experience.Twice a winner on this year's Japan Tour, the 29-year-old from Hiroshima said, "I'm just watching him as the gallery of spectactors, so I don't focus on myself very much. I just relax."

He started the day in joint ninth place, eight behind overnight leader Nick Price, but a six-under, best-of-the-day 66, propelled him through the field to second, as Price faltered after a sound start to finish as he began the day, nine under. The Zimbabwean had two bogeys in the last four holes, including on the notorious 17th, which he later described as "probably the worst green I've seen in my life, almost like the 15th at Augusta". A 67 by Mark Calcavecchia, who was not among the top 50 world-ranked players qualifying for the championship but gained a place via the US Tour top 20, elevated him to fourth, on five under and one behind Padraig Harrington, second after the first round.

Padraig Harrington - still well-placed in third position.

Tiger Woods made his expected challenge, reducing an 18-hole deficit of eight shots to a more easily manageable five with a three-under-par 69. The main mover in the event within the event was Colin Montgomerie, one of five remaining players still with at least a mathematical chance of topping the European order of merit (provided he wins). He also carded a five-under-par 67 to climb to joint 11th, two shots ahead of current number one Darren Clarke and a further shot clear of Lee Westwood, the only two players not requiring a victory to finish the season as European number one. Michael Campbell (14th) also stayed in touch, but Thomas Bjorn (37th) severely limited his opportunities by ending the day on three-under, equal with, among others, Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Sergio García remained the leading contender among the three host-country players, though at one-under-par he had a difficult task ahead of him to become the first Spaniard to win a tournament at Valderrama. José María Olazabal was seemingly out of contention at two over.

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