Els fires 64, leads American Express

Playing some of his best golf in the worst conditions, Ernie Els breezed through a wacky day of weather at the American Express Championship on Friday by starting with four straight birdies and finishing with an 8-under 64 at Thomastown, Ireland.

Els was at 11-under 133. British Open champion Todd Hamilton, who went head-to-head with Els over the final 40 holes at Royal Troon before beating him in a playoff, had one of only two bogey-free rounds at Mount Juliet for a 69 and was tied for second at 9-under 135 with Miguel Angel Jimenez (68).

The weather switched from showers to sunshine, from a warm breeze to cold gusts up to 20 mph, sometimes over the span of three holes.

Tiger Woods still struggled with a back injury, but he saved his worst grimaces for all the putts he missed. Just one shot off the lead at one point, Woods took 19 putts over his final nine holes and had to settle for a 70, leaving him five shots behind.

Justin Leonard had a 68 and was alone in fourth at 8-under 136. U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen had a 69 and was at 137 with Lee Westwood (69), Thomas Bjorn (69) and Steve Flesch (70).

PGA Tour

Steve Pate closed his 7-under 65 with two birdies and shared the lead with Harrison Frazar after two rounds in Madison, Miss.

Pate, who hasn't won on the PGA Tour in six years and hasn't finished better than 15th this year, was at 12-under 132 after his second trip around the 7,199-yard course at Annandale Golf Club. Frazar, who had two eagles in his 67, started the round tied for the lead with John Senden and Glen Day. Chris Couch shot a 63 and was tied at 133 with Senden (67) and Patrick Sheehan (68).

Day shot a 70 and was in a group of seven three strokes behind the leaders.

David Duval finished at 1 under and missed the cut for the fifth time in seven events this year. The 13-time winner and 2001 British Open champion had four bogeys in his second-round 72. Corey Pavin, the 1995 U.S. Open champion, finished at even par. The cut was 3 under.

Champions Tour

Wayne Levi tied a tournament record with an 8-under 64 and held a one-shot lead over Rodger Davis after the first round in Hunt Valley, Md.

Joe Inman and Eduardo Romero had 67s at the 7,060-yard Hayfields Country Club course and were one shot in front of a group of 11 that included Hale Irwin, Tom Kite and Tom Watson.

Levi had eight birdies as he matched his best round on the Champions Tour.

Levi tied the course record set by Jose Maria Canizares in 2000 and matched by J.C. Snead in 2002.

Defending champion Larry Nelson finished 2 over.

Dave Eichelberger had a hole-in-one on the 169-yard 7th with a 7-iron. He had a 70.

-- From wire reports