UPDATE 2-Golf-Recovering Singh leads Palmer event

(Updates at end of round, adds Woods quote)

By Simon Evans

ORLANDO, Florida, March 14 (Reuters) - Holder Vijay Singh showed no ill-effects from a recent stomach virus to fire a five-under-par 65 and take the lead in the Arnold Palmer Invitational second round on Friday.

The Fijian was nine under par overall, two shots ahead of Swede Carl Pettersson (65). Britain's Lee Westwood (68) was third on six under along with Americans Ken Duke and Jim Furyk at the Bay Hill Club.

World number one Tiger Woods was seven shots off the lead, tied for 20th place.

Singh started on the back nine and birdied the 12th, 13th and 14th holes but the highlight was a chip-in from just off the sixth green for an eagle three.

His performance was all the more commendable given he nearly withdrew through food poisoning. Singh said he lost more than 8 kg due to sickness following the Johnnie Walker Classic in India earlier this month.

"I caught the flu and a stomach virus, together it was not very good," he told reporters.

"I thought I was going to pull out of this tournament but last Friday I started hitting a few balls indoors in the shed."