LYTHAM, England (AFP) — Tiger Woods served notice that he remains a major title threat, holing out for birdie from a pot bunker at the 18th yesterday to steal the spotlight in the second round of the British Open.

American Brandt Snedeker took a one-stroke lead over Australian Adam Scott at Royal Lytham with a stunning six-under par 64, matching the lowest 36-hole total in Open history at 10-under par 130 and the 18-hole course record.

But Woods, a 14-time major champion who has not won a major crown since the 2008 US Open, grabbed the glory on a day when scoring was difficult, his last swing producing another tantalysing glimpse of the form that made him a legend.

Woods, chasing the all-time record 18 major titles held by Jack Nicklaus, has won all seven prior major championships in which he has started with two rounds in the 60s, most recently at the 2006 PGA Championship.

Snedeker, who missed the cut in his three prior British Open starts, has not yet suffered a bogey or plunked a shot into a bunker.

Not since Woods was on his way to winning the 2000 British Open at St. Andrews had a player started a major without a bogey in the first 36 holes.

Snedeker, who withdrew from last month's US Open after suffering a cracked right rib from severe coughing, equalled the 36-hole tournament record set by Nick Faldo in 1992 at Muirfield.

Snedeker also matched the 18-hole course record of 64 set by Tom Lehman in the third round in 1996 and equalled in Thursday's first round by Scott, who fired a 67 on Friday to join Snedeker as the targets of a Woods-led chase pack.