Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, the world's top two golfers, moved into contention in the British Open second round on Friday as the tugging winds at Royal St George's eased.

South African Els kept alive his bid for back-to-back titles by firing a three-under-par 68 before Woods reeled off three early birdies to close to within a stroke of the early lead.

"I woke up this morning and I felt I needed to get something going," Els told reporters. "From tee to green, I was as good as I can get and I was really happy with my finish.

"I played very well at stages today. I've just got to get that putter a little bit warmer."

Els, one of several big names to struggle at a windswept Sandwich on Thursday, mixed four birdies with a bogey to finish at four-over-par 146.

The world number two holed a 12-foot birdie putt at the par-four second and then reached the green in two at the par-five fourth to set up birdie number two.

At this point, the winds had strengthened after a relatively calm dawn. The big-hitting South African, who had stumbled to an opening seven-over 78, dropped his first shot of the day when he misjudged his tee shot at the par-three 11th.

But he got back on track with birdies at the 459-yard 13th, where he holed out from six feet, and at the par-four 17th.

TOUGH CONDITIONS

"I shot 68 in very tough conditions and I've got a chance now over the weekend. I just have to keep the momentum going," Els said.

World number one Woods, bidding for his ninth major, parred the opening hole and then hit his approach to just five feet for a birdie-three at the second.

The 2000 champion, who took a triple-bogey seven at the first on Thursday after losing his ball, missed a birdie opportunity from 15 feet at the third but drove the green at the par-five fourth to set up a second birdie.

He failed to convert another birdie chance from similar range at the par-four fifth, but picked up his third shot of the day at the 532-yard seventh to move within a shot of the pacesetting Davis Love III.

But Woods, who had displayed crisp form with his approach play, overshot the green at the ninth to run up a bogey-five, and slip back to even par.

Love, the 1997 U.S. PGA champion, had fired an opening 69 and forged three clear of the field in bright afternoon sunshine with two birdies in an outward nine of 34.

However, the 39-year-old American sandwiched three bogeys around a birdie-two at the par-three 11th on the more difficult back nine to slip back to two under, one ahead Frenchman Thomas Levet, after 12 holes.

South Korea's SK Ho, who had been outright leader at four under after eagling the par-five fourth, struggled after the turn on his way to a two-over-par 73 and a 36-hole total of one-over 143.

A further shot back were Britain's Alastair Forsyth, after a two-birdie 70, American Ben Curtis (72) and first-round leader Hennie Otto of South Africa, who followed his opening 68 with a 76.

"I'm chuffed with that as I played very well," said the 27-year-old Forsyth.

"I scrambled well when I had to, and that's something you need to do around here."