2005 Mercedes Championships Singh Stays on Top at Mercedes By Sports Network - January 07, 2005 KAPALUA, Hawaii -- Vijay Singh, the No. 1 player in the world, fired an 8-under 65 on Friday to extend his lead after 36 holes of the season-opening Mercedes Championships. He stands at 15-under-par 131 and is two ahead of Mike Weir at the Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort. This event is reserved for the 32 winners last year on the PGA Tour. Masters winner Phil Mickelson is the only player eligible for the tournament who did not attend. Weir posted the lowest round of the day on Friday with a 10-under-par 63. He is alone at 13-under-par 133, while Ernie Els, who carded a second-round 65, has sole possession of third place at minus-12. Jonathan Kaye and Sergio Garcia each put together rounds of 6-under 67 and are knotted in fourth place at 11-under-par 135. Tiger Woods, who won this tournament in 1997 and 2000, could not get a putt to fall on Friday and the 663-yard closing hole was a great indication of that. He reached the green in two, but three-putted from 15 feet for a par. "I had my chances to post a good, solid round," said Woods, who missed six birdie putts inside 12 feet on Friday. "We've never putted the greens this slow before. You have to make the adjustment. I'm having a difficult time making the adjustment." Woods finished with his second 5-under 68 in as many days. He is tied for sixth place with Ryder Cup teammates Chad Campbell and Stewart Cink, who also shot 68s in the second round, at minus-10. Singh flew out of the gate on Friday. He drained a 10-footer for birdie at the first and knocked a 7-iron to 4 feet to set up a birdie at the 202-yard, par-3 second. The Fijian parred three and four, but ran home a 15-foot eagle putt at the fifth to go 4 under through his first five holes. Singh birdied the sixth, then made a 60-footer for birdie at seven. The No. 1 player hit a spectacular 7-iron inside 4 feet at eight, but missed the birdie putt, starting a run of suspect golf. He pulled his drive into tall grass at the ninth, but found the ball and made an unlikely par. Singh parred the next two holes then rolled in an 8-foot birdie putt at the 12th. Singh parred the next five holes. He failed to find the green with his second at 18, but chipped to 6 feet and converted the birdie putt.