It took the World Number One just four holes to do precisely that with a seven foot eagle putt at the tenth (his first) and birdies at the 12th and 13th. That propelled Woods to nine under par and he remained out on his own for the remainder of the morning session.

Woods's 66 was matched by Ireland's Peter Lawrie, the former Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year, whose 31 over the front nine would have been gratefully accepted by the World Number One.

Lawrie lies on 135, nine under par and two behind Woods, while Søren Hansen of Denmark joined the Irishman on the same mark after a best of the morning 65.

Darren Clarke, playing alongside Woods and Henrik Stenson, compiled a second successive 68 for eight under par, a mark he shares with Bradley Dredge of Wales (66) Paul Casey of England (69) and Ireland's Damian McGrane (68).