Just five days after winning the Korean Golf Tour’s Shinhan Donghae Open, Casey fired a sparkling seven-under-par 64 in dazzling sunshine to take control at CordeValle Golf Club.

The English world No. 20, the highest-ranked player in the field at the PGA Tour’s Fall Series event, racked up eight birdies and a sole bogey to post an eight-under total of 134.

That left him two ahead of American journeyman Garrett Willis, who carded a three-birdie 69 on the scenic layout situated in the rolling foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Former world No. 1 Woods, who had opened with an erratic 73 in his first tournament appearance in almost two months, returned a 68 to lie seven strokes off the pace.

Having struggled on the greens in mainly wet and cold conditions the previous day, Woods mixed six birdies with three bogeys to end the round two shots inside the projected cut at one over.

“Today I didn’t hit the ball as good as I did yesterday but I putted better,” the 14-times major champion told reporters after making his first cut on the PGA Tour since the Masters in April. “That was a good positive.”

“My ‘feels’ are coming back,” said Woods, who has not competed since he missed the cut at the PGA Championship in August. “All the balls are pin high which is a very good sign.”

Casey, like Woods, has struggled with injury this season, and he was delighted to surge to the top of the leaderboard after only recently resolving a lingering toe problem.

“It’s probably the best I’ve hit the golf ball all year,” Casey said after deciding to return to the PGA Tour for the next two weeks to complete the minimum 15 events required to maintain his card for next season.

“Even though the toe isn’t 100 percent, it’s great news. I’ve had it since late May. It was a joint in my foot which wasn’t allowing my foot to move correctly and that put pressure on my toe.

“My goal right now is to get healthy, and I am probably about 70 percent (fully fit). 2011 has been a frustrating year.”

Casey began the day three strokes off the pace but he set the tone for his round when he rolled in a 28-footer from just off the green to birdie the par-three 11th, his second hole.

After offsetting a birdie at the 13th with a bogey at the 14th, he picked up further shots at the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th to race to the turn in five-under 31.

Casey, who sank three birdie putts from more than 24 feet during the round, rolled in a seven-footer to birdie the par-four sixth and claim the outright lead at seven under.

The 34-year-old Englishman very nearly birdied the eighth, his long-range attempt ramming the back of the cup before lipping out, but he signed off in style with a two-putt birdie at the par-five ninth.
 

In Cheonan, South Korea, American Rickie Fowler took a commanding four-shot lead at the Kolon Korea Open after carding a course record-equalling 8-under-par 63 on Saturday.

The world No. 36 produced a flawless performance at a sun-drenched Woo Jeong Hills Country Club to improve to 13-under-par overall and move within touching distance of a first career victory heading into the final round.

South Korea’s YE Yang was in second place after a third-round 67, two shots clear of compatriot Kim Meen-Whee, who eagled the final hole to card an impressive 66 at the OneAsia event.

Joint overnight leaders Bronson La’Cassie of Australia and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland slipped to joint fourth, 10 shots adrift of the lead.

“I had a good round and I can’t complain with a 63,” said 22-year-old Fowler.

“Going into the round I wanted to drive the ball well and make some putts, and I was able to do that and that puts me in a good position.”

The 2010 US PGA Tour Rookie of the Year was five-under-par at the turn, adding three further gains on the way home, and ensuring a perfect round with a chip-in save at the par three 16th.

“I think I can win,” he said. “I feel good about my game and I’m in a great position, which is right where I wanted to be coming into the week.”

Yang, the world number 43, who has twice won the title, is not out of contention. He posted six birdies to the delight of an enthusiastic home crowd.

“Rickie and I had a good battle at the top of the leaderboard and I am satisfied with the round,” said the 39-year-old 2009 PGA Championship winner.

After beginning the day in a five-way tie for the lead alongside Fowler and Yang, world No. 3 McIlroy made an encouraging start with a pair of early birdies.

The 22-year-old dropped six shots in eight holes around the turn before finishing with back-to-back birdies to improve to three-under-par overall.