Nick O'Hern is best known in world golf for beating Tiger Woods twice in match play.

Now he's hoping to win his country's greatest tournament with a share of the lead heading into the third round of the Australian Open.

O'Hern fired a classy six-under-par 66 to join fellow West Australian Kim Felton (69) at the top of the leader board at eight under par.

But looming behind them is two-time winner Robert Allenby, who shares third place at seven under par with a group of players including James Nitties, Andrew Bonhomme and surprise first round leader Lee Williamson of the United States.

Although he was ranked as high as No.16 in the world earlier this year, O'Hern has only ever won two tournaments - at Coolum in 1999 and 2006.

Each time it has been the last tournament of the year and the left-hander is hoping history will repeat this year in the last event on the calendar.

Allenby grabbed most of the limelight on Friday when he defused potential hecklers at the par-three 11th "party hole" by pulling out a pair of bright red earmuffs and donning them as he walked onto the green.

But he says all the hoopla distracted him from his birdie putt and he won't be repeating the performance.

Also in contention are Stuart Appleby and US PGA rookie of the year Brandt Snedeker at three back.

Former US Open winner Geoff Ogilvy is a further shot back on four under the card, having spoiled his card by making a triple-bogey seven at the ninth.

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