Tiger Woods improves in second round in Florida

FLORIDA, Dec. 5: Tiger Woods carded an improved second-round 70 but remains in last position at the Hero World Challenge in Florida.

The 38-year-old, who is making his competitive comeback after four months out injured, scored a disappointing 77 in his opening round on Thursday.

But he performed better on Friday, with only a double-bogey on the last hole preventing him dipping into the 60s. Swede Henrik Stenson's 68 gave him the lead on nine-under, a shot ahead of Patrick Reed and England's Justin Rose.

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell followed up his opening round of 68 with a 73 to leave him on three-under and three places above Woods. The American 14-time major winner, who has had back surgery, was playing his first competitive tournament since missing the cut at the USPGA Championship in August, opened with a birdie but gave that shot back on eight before an eagle on the par-five 13th brought his round to life. A birdie followed on 14 and another on 16 had Woods four under for the day but a rain delay of around 90 minutes after he came off 17 halted his momentum and a flat finish on the last meant he was three-over for the tournament, which he annually hosts.

"It wasn't a whole lot different (than the opening round)," he told Sky Sports. "I maybe hit two less worse shots than I did the previous day, but it really wasn't that much different."