SAN DIEGO, Jan 29 — It was just like old times for Tiger Woods as he ominously worked his way up the Farmers Insurance Open leaderboard yesterday until he suddenly lost ground after the turn.

In dazzling sunshine at Torrey Pines, the former world number one briefly closed to within two of the lead before ending the second round five strokes behind pacesetting fellow American Bill Haas.

Woods, who ended up in 10 bunkers on the day, ground out a three-under-par 69 on the South Course, one of two layouts staging the PGA Tour event, for a six-under total of 138.

Two birdies in the last three holes put a relieved smile on his face after he had dropped three shots in five holes from the 11th.

"I (was) grinding my way around the golf course pretty good today," Woods told reporters after hitting only six of 14 fairways and reaching 11 of 18 greens in regulation.

"I got off to a good start. I was making some putts, hitting some good shots. I lost it in the middle part of the round and then I got it back in the end.

"You know, it's a round that could have easily slipped away, but I got it back at 16 and 18."

A seven-times winner at the spectacular coastal venue, including his most recent major victory at the 2008 US Open, Woods made a wobbly start to his round.

With a light breeze blowing, he found bunkers off the tee and also with his approach at the first before coolly sinking a 10-foot putt to save par.

TRADEMARK FASHION

After another par at the second, he recorded four consecutive birdies from the third, a monster 28-footer at the fifth prompting him to pump his right fist repeatedly in trademark fashion.

Moments after his ball dropped into the cup, a fan screamed out: "That's my boy, Tiger."

Woods failed to birdie the par-five ninth after pushing his second shot into the right rough short of the green and reached the turn in four-under 32.

Wayward off the tee in the opening round, his driving problems again caught up with him as he struggled over the closing nine holes.

He bogeyed the par-three 11th and the par-four 14th, both times taking two shots to escape greenside bunkers, and also dropped at the 15th where he found the right rough off the tee. — Reuters

MANCHESTER, England, Jan 29 — Doubts about the future of Paul Scholes make Manchester United's FA Cup trip to Southampton today has become more complicated for manager Alex Ferguson.

Ryan Giggs, 37, has expressed a desire to extend his long United career and Ferguson had hoped 36-year-old Scholes would do the same thing but the Englishman has so far been non-committal.

Ferguson has already started looking for the next generation, including Southampton's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who will effectively be on trial in the fourth-round tie.

The 17-year-old has been linked with a move to Arsenal but has also caught Ferguson's eye ahead of the trip to the League One (third division) club.

"Yes, the boy's got potential of course, he's only young," Ferguson told a news conference.

"Southampton have done very well over the years bringing young players through and he's another one, along with Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott. Before that ... the two Wallace brothers, Alan Shearer, so they've been good at that over the years. They are doing a lot right."

Scholes said this week that he did not know what he would be doing next year.

"Paul's not made up his mind," said Ferguson. "I hope he stays on for another year, I think he can do that. But I will leave it with him."

FAMILY BEREAVEMENT

Scholes could play today but defender Patrice Evra will miss the game due to a family bereavement and goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar will not travel to the south coast.

Midfielder Michael Carrick, who missed the Premier League leaders' dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Blackpool on Tuesday with an ankle injury, should be fit.

The match (1715 GMT) pits United against the club they lost to in the 1976 FA Cup final when then second division Southampton sprung a major shock.

The Saints are challenging for promotion and Ferguson was impressed when he watched them in a 6-0 victory over Oldham Athletic this month in which Chamberlain scored.

"They are having a really good season, it won't be an easy game," Ferguson said.

"Away games in cup ties are never easy anyway so it should be a difficult but exciting game too because they definitely play good football and they have a go." — Reuters