GULLANE, Scotland -- A damp day at Muirfield ended with a logjam of five players tied for the British Open's second-round lead and Grand Slam chaser Tiger Woods ominously lurking just two shots back after a steady 68.

World No. 3 Ernie Els had set the early pace before losing momentum on the back nine and was caught by Japan's Shigeki Maruyama, Ireland's Padraig Harrington and Americans Duffy Waldorf and 1986 U.S. PGA champion Bob Tway.

South African Els and Tway both carded 5-under-par 66s, Maruyama a second successive 68, Harrington a 67 and Waldorf, one of three leaders overnight, a 69 as the five ended up on 6-under totals of 136.