Woods burning bright

Augusta, Georgia April 11: There is a Tiger lurking in the towering Georgia pines at Augusta National and he is stalking another Green Mas...

Augusta, Georgia April 11: There is a Tiger lurking in the towering Georgia pines at Augusta National and he is stalking another Green Masters jacket.

8220;I love the position I8217;m in right now,8221; Woods said on Friday after a 72 put him at 1-under-par 143, four strokes behind Fred Couples and David Duval.8220;I8217;m right in the ball game,8221; he said. 8220;I8217;d rather be leading because that8217;s fewer you have to make up. But being in the top 10 in a major with two rounds to go? You8217;re in perfect shape.8221;

Last year, on his way to record 12-stroke victory, Woods was three strokes ahead halfway through.

But he seems so at home here 8212; he has played more than six consecutive rounds without a three-putt on the treacherous greens that a four-stroke deficit with 36 holes to go seems trivial.

There is definitely something about Woods at the Masters that is reminiscent of Jack Nicklaus, who has a record six green jackets.

8220;You know he8217;s going to beat you, he knows he8217;s going to beat you and you know that he knows he8217;sgoing to beat you,8221; Tom Weiskopf once said about Nicklaus.

So far, Couples and Duval have managed to remain more concerned about Augusta National than they are about Woods, and that could be what it takes to win this Masters. But there is a sense that whoever wins this will have to deal with Woods.

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8220;I8217;m leading with David Duval, but Augusta National is doing what it8217;s supposed to do,8221; Couples said after a scrambling 70 put him at 5-under-par 139 with Duval.

That8217;s how fickle Augusta National is, and it has been made evermore so by gusting winds that have tossed shots astray and made the course play scary fast.

Scott Hoch, alone in third place at 141 8212; two strokes back 8212; had the steadiest round of the day until the last few holes. His first bogey came on No 16 when he missed a short putt, the same length he missed in a playoff with Nick Faldo to lose the 1989 Masters. He then missed a par putt on the last hole to shoot a 71.

Woods was tied at 143 with Phil Mickelson, who shot a 69, and Jay Haas,who had a 71, Paul Azinger, 72, and Jose Maria Olazabal, 73.

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If there is a concern for the leaders it is that Woods has played nowhere near his best, but has showed more patience and maturity 8212; despite several slammed clubs 8212; than he did last year when things went wrong.AP

Scores after 36 holes all players US unless mentioned: 139 8211; David Duval 71-68, Fred Couples 69-70; 141 8211; Scott Hoch 70-71; 143 8211; Phil Mickelson 74-69, Jay Haas 72-71, Tiger Woods 71-72, Paul Azinger 71-72, Jose Maria Olazabal Spa 70-73; 144 8211; Mark O8217;Meara 74-70, Scott McCarron 73-71; 145 8211; Steve Jones 75-70, Ernie Els Rsa 75-70, Ian Woosnam Gbr 74-71, Jack Nicklaus 73-72, David Frost Rsa 72-73, Jeff Maggert 72-73, Fuzzy Zoeller 71-74; 146 8211; Jim Furyk 76-70, Andrew Magee 74-72, Colin Montgomerie Gbr 71-75; 147 8211; Craig Stadler 79-68, David Toms 75-72, Justin Leonard 74-73, Michael Bradley 73-74, Brad Faxon 73-74, Tom Kite 73-74; 148 8211; John Daly 77-71, John Huston 77-71, John Cook 75-73, Jesper Parnevik Swe75-73,Bernhard Langer Ger 75-73, Mark Calcavecchia 74-74, Willie Wood 74-74, Matt Kuchar 72-76.