THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Colin Montgomerie walked off the 18th green in a tie for the lead with Tiger Woods at the Target World Challenge, and someone told him the tournament was in his hands.

Montgomerie, of all people, knows better.

“It’s in Tiger’s hands,” he said with a smile.

Seven years after they were first paired together in the final group going into the weekend, Woods and Montgomerie established themselves as the front-runners Friday with stretches of great play and minimal mistakes to each shoot 5-under 66.

Montgomerie birdied five of his first seven holes, then had to scramble for a bogey on the 18th hole to salvage a share of the lead at Sherwood Country Club. Woods made five birdies in a six-hole stretch in the middle of his round, disappointed in making only one birdie on the par 5s. They were at 9-under 133 and were two shots clear of Jim Furyk (68) and Jay Haas (66).

Gustafsson leads as Els, McDonald fall back in Dunhill Championship

MALELANE, South Africa – Sweden’s Peter Gustafsson took a four-stroke lead after two rounds of the Dunhill Championship, shooting a 4-under 68 on Friday while the tournament’s early leaders wilted in the heat.

Gustafsson, who had just one bogey in his round, moved to 7-under 135 at the midway point in the tournament. Four golfers were tied for second on 139.

First-round leader Bruce McDonald struggled on the second day at the Leopard Creek Country Club, shooting a 76 after opening the tournament with a 66 on Thursday.

Among the golfers joining McDonald at 142 was Ernie Els, who had a 75 on Friday after being just one stroke off the lead with a 67 in the opening round. Els had two double bogeys on his back nine in the second round.

Hughes leads Australian Masters

MELBOURNE, Australia – Australia’s Bradley Hughes took a four-stroke lead in the Australian Masters on Friday, while countryman Peter Lonard was five shots behind in his bid to became the first player to complete the Australian Slam.

Hughes, the 1993 and 1998 winner, completed the rain-delayed first round with an 8-under 64 and added a 66 in the second round at Huntingdale. Lonard, seeking his fourth straight victory, shot a 67. He began the streak in the New South Wales Open on the secondary Von Nida tour before taking the first two legs of the Slam – the Australian Open and Australian PGA.