Tiger Woods leads Padraig Harrington by just one stroke after the second round of the Tour Championship at the East Lake Club in Atlanta.

The two, who went around together, will do it all over again tomorrow as the seeds of a rivalry that began at the WGC during the summer continues to grow into the fall.

World number one Woods had one bogey on the fifth, but three birdies in a row on 7, 8 and 9 left him on five under par. A further birdie on the par 5 15th took him to six under par, but a costly bogey on 18 leaves the 33-year-old five under par for the tournament and just one ahead of his Irish rival.

Harrington had two birdies and one bogey on the front nine to go out in 34,  four under for the tournament. The 38-year-old picked up a birdie at the 12th, but gave it back at the 14th with a bogey and came home after that in regulation to card a one under par 69.

Woods has found Harrington a hard man to shake this year, and the Irishman relishes being in the heat of battle with the world’s greatest player.

The two are giving the Georgia galleries exactly what they hoped for: a heavyweight tussle between two golfers in great form.

First round leader Sean O’Hair is also in the mix in a tie with Harrington for second place on four under par, after shooting a level par round of 70.

Another giant of the game, Ernie Els, is lurking one shot behind at three under par after shooting a 66. “The Big Easy” has had a welcome return to form; there is not a more enjoyable player to watch when in the groove.

With the Tour's top 30 players in action and the big names congregating at the top,  the action is perculating nicely for what could be a rip roaring Fedex Cup finale.