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Sergio Garcia shot a seven-under 65 to lead on 11 under after the second round of the Players Championship at Sawgrass in Florida.

The Spaniard made eight birdies, including five in a row from the second, to lead Tiger Woods by one.

World number one Woods matched his first-round 67 to finish on 10 under, while England's Lee Westwood is a shot further back on nine under after a 66.

World number two Rory McIlroy shot 72, five shots off the pace at six under.

Garcia, starting on the 10th, had six pars before picking up his first shot on the par-five 16th and he birdied the 18th to go to six under.

A bogey on the first checked his progress but a run of six birdies in his next seven holes, including the run of five, catapulted him to the top of the leaderboard.

"I felt like I played better on holes 10 to 18 than one to nine but I made a whole bunch of putts on the front nine," said Garcia, who won this event in 2008.

"This is one of my favourite courses, I feel like my game is good and I'm just hoping to keep going."

Woods was happy with his 67 and said: "I've just never been able to put it all together for this one particular week.

"I've done it twice, but a majority of the years I really haven't done it but so far this year, I'm right there.

"I took care of the par-fives again today. I thought the first seven or eight holes, it was pretty gettable."

Westwood followed his opening-round 69 with a six-under 66 as he completed the first 36 holes without dropping a shot.

Sweden's Henrik Stenson, who chipped in for an eagle on the last hole, and American Kevin Chappell joined him on nine under.

"I've played well and haven't made any bogeys which is a feat round this course," said the 40-year-old Westwood.

"I've given myself a chance going into the weekend."

McIlroy, who has missed the cut in his last three visits to Sawgrass, faltered with three successive bogeys from the seventh, but he could regain the world number one spot if he wins and Woods finishes outside the top 13.

Scotland's Martin Laird sits alongside the Northern Irishman on six under after firing six birdies in his round of 67.

First-round pacesetter Roberto Castro found the going tough on Friday and shot 78 to slip down the leaderboard.

English pair David Lynn and Luke Donald ended four under and three under respectively but Ian Poulter, Justin Rose, Graeme McDowell, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson all missed the cut.