• WGC-Cadillac Championship, Round Two

Rose and Watson tame Blue Monster as Tiger lurks

Justin Rose went bogey-free on Friday © Getty Images

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Justin Rose produced a flawless second round to put himself firmly in contention at the WGC-Cadillac Championship in Florida.

Rose produced eight birdies to move to 11-under, but his round of 64 was overshadowed by playing partner Bubba Watson, who stormed to the top of the leaderboard with a scintillating 62, while Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy bettered their opening rounds to keep themselves in the hunt.

Rose began the day three shots off the pace, but was soon top of the leaderboard with a hat-trick of birdies on his opening three holes. Starting on the back nine, it was Rose's performances on the greens that saw him pick up five birdies in his opening eight holes to reach the turn in 31.

Another three birdies saw him sign for 64, but the Englishman, who led the way for much of the day was overhauled by Watson, who grabbed the lead with an eagle at the eighth as he matched the lowest round of his career, one shy of the course record.

"That was a fun round," Rose said. "We fed off each other's energy. I don't know whether they rolled the greens after the rain, but they rolled so smoothly."

Tiger Woods clawed himself into contention at Doral with a bogey-free round of 67. Woods, who carded his lowest round in two years at last week's Honda Classic, improved on his opening-round 72 to move to five-under.

New world No. 1 Rory McIlroy also improved on his opening round struggles but remains some way off the pace on two-under. McIlroy, who admitted to struggling for focus since topping the rankings, began brightly with an eagle-birdie start, but almost instantly undid much of his hard work with bogeys at three and five.

Four birdies mixed with two bogeys on the back nine made for a colourful scorecard as McIlroy drew level with good friend Graeme McDowell, who also faded after a scintillating start on Friday.

The Northern Irishman got off to a blistering start, following up an eagle at the first with four birdies on his opening seven holes, but could only manage a level-par back nine as he signed for 67 to move to two-under for the tournament.

McIlroy was playing alongside Englishmen Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, who could both snatch the No. 1 spot back off him this weekend. Of the trio, Donald is best placed on six-under after his round of 68.

Westwood threatened to make a major assault up the leaderboard with six birdies in his opening 10 holes, but after an opening round 76 remains some way off the pace on one-under.

A double bogey at the eighth threatened to derail joint overnight leader Adam Scott's charge, but the Australian responded admirably, posting five birdies on the back nine to sign for 68 to stay firmly in contention - two shots off the pace on 10-under. Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and Martin Kaymer are five shots off the pace on seven-under after rounds of 69 and 64 respectively.

Ian Poulter endured another day to forget with a second round 77 as he slumped to nine-over. Poulter, who missed last week's Honda Classic through illness, started promisingly with two early birdies, but wilted badly as he completed the back nine in 42.

Sergio Garcia showed some signs of a revival after reaching the turn in 39, but the Spaniard is well off the pace on five-over after his second round 74. Paul Casey, making his first appearance since dislocating his shoulder in a snowboarding accident last year, improved on his opening round 76 to card 71.

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