McDowell fancies Miami chances

Graeme McDowell achieved his aim of preventing the dream pairing of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in round three of the WGC event in Miami.

Now all that remains is overhauling a rejuvenated Woods over the final 36 holes to win the £985,000 first prize on offer to whoever can tame the Blue Monster at Doral.

McDowell carded a flawless 67 on Friday to reach halfway at 11 under par in the Cadillac Championship, but then saw fellow joint first-round leader Woods go two better with a 65 containing eight birdies and one bogey.

On a truly world-class leaderboard, Mickelson was a shot behind McDowell after a second straight 67 which almost finished with a hole in one, while Steve Stricker was also 10 under and could come to regret giving Woods a putting lesson on Wednesday when the £5.8million event concludes on Sunday.

McDowell told Sky Sports 3: "It looks like Tiger has got the eye in round here and he is always exciting when he is playing well.

"But I am very happy with my performance over the first two days. I'm feeling really good on these greens and positioned it well off the tee which you have to do on this course.

"I saw Phil (Mickelson) on the board and the possibility of the dream pairing of Phil and Tiger, and I said to my caddie, 'Let's try and spoil that party'. If I can be hanging around come Sunday afternoon on the back nine and give myself a chance, that would be nice."

However, Woods was looking in ominously good form as he seeks a seventh win in the event and a 17th WGC title of his career.

The 14-time major winner picked up shots at the fourth and fifth before another birdie on the seventh took him into the outright lead for the first time, while a wayward drive on the par-five eighth could not prevent another birdie after he pitched to 15ft and coaxed in a curling putt.

Out in 32, Woods also birdied the 10th, 11th and 13th before his only bogey of the day on the 14th, but that was soon followed by a 17th birdie of the week - a new career best through 36 holes - on the 16th and two closing pars.

After two days of perfect scoring conditions, stronger winds are forecast for the weekend, while the course will then be "blown up" on Monday in the words of owner Donald Trump as major renovations take place.

"If the wind blows with the greens this firm it's going to be very difficult and they don't really care come Monday," Woods said.

"If they lose the course they are going to blow it up anyway so I think they are going to really push us and test us so it's going to be fun."

World number one Rory McIlroy broke 70 for the first time this year with a round of 69 to lie two under, although a three-putt bogey on the 18th took some of the gloss off four birdies in seven holes on the back nine.

McIlroy told the PGA Tour website: "It's nice to shoot something in the 60s. Definitely something to build on over the next couple of days.

"I saw a lot of positives. I saw a lot of good signs out there."