Good luck, Geoff - Smart talker Ogilvy stands between Tiger and straight win No 8

Actually, the personable Australian Geoff Ogilvy might be one of the few with a prayer of standing up to Tiger Woods in his present mood.

With a U.S. Open and an Accenture Match Play title to his credit, the 30-year-old has shown he can win at the highest level and head-to-head.

He also begins with a one-shot lead following tremendous rounds of 65 and 67 and has yet to register a single bogey.

Whatever happens over the next two days, the one thing you can guarantee is that Ogilvy will deliver an eloquent explanation.

Asked about Woods earlier in the week, he replied: 'He seems to have a good career every year.'

As Woods seeks his eighth successive victory in his last event before the Masters, Ogilvy might want to alter that tomorrow night to every six months. Woods was just mesmerising.

How do you follow a thinned greenside bunker shot on your first hole? You sink one for an eagle at your third.

Ticked off after missing a short par putt on his last hole on day one, he holed a 20-footer with a 10ft swing to birdie his final hole on day two. Good luck, Geoff.

This pair have a two-shot advantage over the great Aussie underachiever Adam Scott, who got himself level with Woods only to finish bogey, bogey.

From a British perspective, it was disappointing that none of the nine who broke or matched par on day one managed to follow through on day two, with the result that Luke Donald finds himself best placed in joint 10th.

Graeme Storm, Ross Fisher and Justin Rose are part of a 10-strong group tied for 20th.

As for the tournament's great sub-plot, Colin Montgomerie, needing a top-four finish to make the Masters, followed up his disastrous opening 75 with a double bogey at the last for a 74.

Just pride to play for this weekend, therefore, rather than Augusta. Woods and the British winter have long represented the irresistible force and the immovable object as far as Ernie Els is concerned.

Now, unable to make any impression on the former, the South African has taken the difficult decision to reduce his beloved Wentworth to a summer home and make South Florida his permanent residence.

The world No 3 is moving to a swish home in the same Jupiter neighbourhood where Woods has bought a $40million pad, thereby giving new meaning to the saying, 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.'

Career and family are the twin reasons why Twickenham and Old Trafford, among other leading British venues, will be minus one avid sports-mad pro.

'Golf-wise, it is really tough to stay in England for four months in the off-season and then expect to compete with guys practising all the time,' said Els.

'At the end of the day, I am South African and I love the sun.' The other reason concerns his two children.

'My daughter Sam is now eight, so we can't keep taking her out of school all the time,' he explained.

Els hesitates for a moment before moving on to his five-year-old son, Ben, who, he recently revealed, is autistic.

'We're fortunate in being in a position to find the finest schooling for him, and America is the most advanced country in the world in that regard,' he said.

Els has become a spokesman for Autism Speaks, a public awareness group.

It was surely not a coincidence that the week he decided to go public, posting the group's logo on his golf bag, he registered an emotional first victory in four years in America at the Honda Classic this month.

'We felt it was time as a family to talk about it,' he said. 'With my profile I can help raise money for its prevention. We all have issues.

'This is life. It's not the easiest thing in the world but he is the nicest little boy you will ever meet.'

Suffering from a virus, Els struggled over the first two days here, posting rounds of 74 and 75.

Mentally, he has already moved on to the Masters. With two U.S. Opens and an Open to his credit, it is a Green Jacket he craves in his remaining prime years.

'I feel like my swing is good and I just need some good rounds under my belt now before I get there,' he said.

'I am playing the Houston Open the week before the Masters, so a good weekend here followed by a good tournament in Texas, and I'll be ready.'

Not quite as ready, however, as someone else we could mention.