Tiger Woods makes move with 66 but Rory McIlroy is man to catch

Without a victory for almost 15 months, the former world No 1 showed Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer - the two players who have overtaken him in the rankings - that he is still capable of hitting the heights.

For a while Woods even held a share of the lead, but Rory McIlroy showed how much he has grown up as he stayed on course to repeat his wire-to-wire victory in the event two years ago.

First came the challenge from Woods then Sergio Garcia, another fallen superstar looking to end a long barren spell, and South African Thomas Aiken showed they were not going to back off. But, after a nervy-looking bogey on the second hole, the 21-year-old Northern Irishman hit back with five birdies and, although his lead over Garcia and Aiken is down from two to one, he is still the man to catch going into the final two rounds.

Now 11-under par and four clear of Woods, who is in a tie for fifth, McIlroy stated: "Maybe this time last year I would not have been able to grind out a 68 after the start I had.

"Rounds like this prove I am doing the right thing and if I come up against Tiger this weekend I look forward to the challenge. I don't think you should be intimidated by anybody on tour. I believe in myself and my abilities."

That was a far cry from what the world No 7 had said when he and Lee Westwood went head to head across the road in the Dubai World Championship 15 months ago. Westwood pounced then on the fact that McIlroy admitted he would rather not be playing with his rival for the European money list title - and beat him by eight.

November 2009 was also when Woods last lifted a trophy, but encouraged by the eagle he made at the end of his opening 71 and the work he did on his game afterwards, the American burst through the field in ominous fashion.

Watching, of course, were Westwood and Kaymer and they looked ordinary by comparison on this occasion. This is Westwood's third event of the season, but after a 64th place in Abu Dhabi and a missed cut in Qatar he is still unhappy with his ball-striking. A 70 leaves him with six strokes to make up in 11th spot. Kaymer, who could go to No 1 with a top-two finish tomorrow, managed only a 71 to be one further back and joint 20th.

Woods commented: "I felt it was important to post a number and I played myself right back into the tournament. I controlled my trajectory a lot better. The two shots I hit down 18 (to set up his eagle) were the way I know I can swing and I worked out a few things last night that I didn't like."

Not everything about Woods impressed television commentator Ewen Murray, however. First he criticised him for spitting - "it's one of the ugliest things you will ever see on a golf course" - and then he saw him disappoint a bunch of children by not signing autographs for them at the end of his practice session."If you are getting paid three million dollars I don't think it's too much to ask to spend 15 to 20 minutes with some of the youngsters," said Murray.