BEIJING, 19 March 2005 — Scot Colin Montgomerie made up ground in his bid to return to the world’s top 50 when he carded a second-round 65 at the TCL Classic yesterday.

He moved on to 132 alongside England’s Paul Casey and Choi Gwang-soo of South Korea but two shots behind Alex Quiroz of Mexico who fired a 65 for the second day in succession.

Quiroz, ranked 707 in the world, delivered an assured back nine of 31 at the Yalong Bay Golf Club, Sanya, Hainan Island.

Montgomerie’s round featured six birdies, an eagle and a bogey. The 41-year-old , who won the tournament in 2002, is world ranked 54th and needs to be in the top 50 by March 28 to gain entry into the U.S. Masters.

Casey with a 68 could not match his opening 64 and Choi (67) failed to make his length tell on the inward half, missing out on birdie chances at the two par fives.

Rain Can’t Cool Off Red-Hot Woods at Bay Hill

In Orlando, Florida, thunderstorms and torrential rain caused the first round of the Bay Hill Invitational in Orlando, Florida to be suspended on Thursday after world No. 1 Tiger Woods had made a solid start.

Woods, who regained the number one ranking two weeks ago at the Doral, was two under after seven holes, a shot behind joint leaders Joe Ogilvie of the US and Spain’s Sergio Garcia, who were on three under after 13 and eight holes respectively.

The first round will resume on Friday with American Kenny Perry, South Korea’s KJ Choi and Britain’s Graeme McDowell level with Woods at two under.

“Fortunately for us it looks like the weather is going to get much better throughout the weekend starting tomorrow,” said Garcia. “The course is going to need it.

“It’s really wet and it’s unfortunate, but you’ve got to get through these things and just move on.

“Definitely it was a good start. I played okay. I hit some good shots. I made a couple (of) nice putts.”

World No,. 2 Vijay Singh never made it onto the course while Ernie Els’ start was as disappointing as the weather with bogeys on the opening two holes.

The world No. 3 picked up a shot with a birdie on the fourth but was one-over with 11 to play.

Woods, a four-time winner at Bay Hill, got his round off to a flawless start with birdies at the third and sixth.

Sorenstam One Back; Wie Struggles

In Superstition Mountain, Arizona, Annika Sorenstam is always capable of jumping out to big leads. She seems to be even more dangerous when she has to come back on the last day.

“I’d like to have a 10-shot lead by Saturday,” she said. “That would be great. But, you know, I’ve been in so many different situations, and I kind of like coming from behind a little bit on Sunday.”

She’s only slightly off the pace at the Safeway International, shooting a 6-under 66 on Thursday to finish a stroke behind first-round leaders Lorena Ochoa and Siew-Ai Lim. Michelle Wie wasn’t nearly as pleased with her position. The 15-year-old star from Hawaii found out how cold the desert can get in March and blamed cold fingers for a 73 that put her in jeopardy of missing the cut