Vijay Singh took over the lead in the 80th US PGA Championship at Sahalee, Washington state yesterday - but Colin Montgomerie was not far behind. Montgomerie crept up on overnight leader Tiger Woods with a 67, which left him on 137, but Singh's 66 matched Woods's course record on Thursday and left him on 136.

Singh shot 30 for the first nine in ideal conditions set up his course record. A bogey at the tough 18th hole ruined Montgomerie's chance of matching that 66 and he dropped to three-under 67 for the day and three-under 137 for the tournament, and very much in contention.

For another Briton, Lee Westwood, the story was very different. He slumped to a 76 for a 10 over par total of 150.

Westwood had originally intended to stay on in the States for two more weeks, but instead flies back to Britain - two days earlier than he hoped - and plays in next week's European Open in Dublin.

"The Order of Merit is the priority for the rest of the year," he added. "The only one."

Montgomerie was one shot in front of Australian Steve Elkington, who beat Montgomerie in a play-off for the 1995 PGA Championship. Elkington posted his second straight 69 for a twounder total of 138.

American Frank Lickliter was in the clubhouse on one-under 139 after a one-over 71.

"I think I got the best out of the first two rounds that I could," said Montgomerie, who was dissatisfied with his swing but pleased with his putting.

"My putting today was particularly good, I had a number of 20footers which went in."

Montgomerie birdied the second and fourth, then gave a stroke back with a bogey on the par-three fifth.

He scrambled to a par with on the next hole, a save that he said was crucial.

"The par save on six was vital," he said. "It kept the thing going."

He had important par putts of three and 35 feet at the next two holes, then made a 20-footer for birdie at 12. He sank birdie putts of 25 and 15 feet at 14 and 16. Sandwiched between them was a birdie attempt of 20 feet that just slid by.

He couldn't work the magic again at 18, the par-four converted from a par-five, where he faced a 35-footer for par and missed it.

"I played conservatively," Montgomerie said. "I played percentage golf. The chances that I did have, I took. I feel good about my position."