Tiger Woods realized that no one was pulling away at the HSBC Champions yesterday in Shanghai, so he settled into a good groove with the putter and made sure he caught them.

Woods birdied five of his final 10 holes for another 5-under 67, giving him a share of the 36-hole lead with Nick Watney in the final World Golf Championships event of the year that continues to have a distinct American look.

Seven of the top nine players on the leader board are from the United States, and the possibility of another No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown looms with Phil Mickelson making three birdies over the final four holes for a 66 to finish one shot behind.

Woods has been runner-up twice at the HSBC Champions, and he put himself in contention again at Sheshan International. After consecutive holes failing to make birdie with a wedge in his hand, he knocked in a 10-foot birdie on the ninth and was on his way.

"I certainly had some looks and didn't really capitalize on anything," Woods said. "Made a putt on 9 and from then on, I hit a lot of good putts and basically played the last 10 holes at 5 under."

He reached the par-5 18th in two for one final birdie to catch Watney (70) at 10-under 134.

They were one shot clear of Mickelson, Ryan Moore (69) and Alvaro Quiros of Spain, who chose to lay up on the 18th instead of hitting 4-iron to the green because the putting surfaces were firm and quick. He had to settle for a par and a 66.

Another shot behind was Anthony Kim, who made eagle on the 18th for a 69, while Pat Perez made a bogey on his final hole for a 69 that put him at 7-under 137.

Perez said he is working on some swing adjustments and not really paying attention to his score, so while he is in contention for the first time in a World Golf Championships event, he is not particularly sure how he got there.

At least he might get a few more fans today.

"It felt like Sunday afternoon on the wrong side of the course," he said. "We had like two people following us. It's an awesome tournament, but we had no atmosphere. It made me realize I'm actually a nobody."

• Mizuno Classic: American Brittany Lang shot a 6-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead over Japan's Nobuko Kizawa and South Korea's Hee Young Park after the first round in Shima, Japan.

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