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Golf

Tiger in the hunt after shooting 66

SAN DIEGO -- Tiger Woods' turnaround was just as drastic as the change in weather Friday, from a gloomy fog to spectacular sunshine.

Woods chipped in for eagle from 34 yards on the final hole in the second round of the PGA's Buick Invitational for 6-under-par 66 that sent a strong message about the state of his knee, not to mention his game.

"It's just getting into the rhythm of competing," he said.

After sitting out two months after knee surgery, it took Woods one competitive round to warm up and one more to get back into the hunt. He was two strokes behind Marco Dawson and Brad Faxon heading into the weekend of a tournament in which he hasn't finished worse than fifth.

When the day began with low clouds over Torrey Pines, Woods replaced his ball under a cedar tree on the 10th hole to resume his first round. Nobody finished 18 holes Thursday because of the weather, and Woods was 1 under and going nowhere in a hurry.

By late afternoon, sunshine covered the Pacific Coast. And Woods was just short of the ninth green, trying to gauge his chip. It came off perfectly, skipping over a mound, slowing to a crawl and disappearing into the cup for eagle.

"That was just a feel shot," Woods said.

Faxon got a lesson last week at Pebble Beach on how to stay patient. He played with Davis Love, who struggled early in the tournament but won on Sunday. Faxon was plodding along until five birdies over his final eight holes set up 64. He and Dawson (66) had 10-under 134.

Woods isn't the only comeback story this week. Dennis Paulson, a former PGA Tour winner who lost his exempt privileges this year, made the most of his opportunity to play in the Buick with rounds of 68-67. He was in a large group that included Arron Oberholser (65-70), the overnight leader after the first round was delayed, and Fred Funk (71-64).

Woods, who was at 136, admitted he was rusty after finishing his first round on the North Course with birdie and 2-under 70. But by the time he started his second round, he had a spring in his step.

"My leg got better as the day went on," he said.

The driver was another matter.

After hitting three fairways in the first round, Woods continued to send tee shots into the rough. The only exception was when he teed off with his 2-iron.

He managed to climb up the leaderboard, rolling in a 20-footer on No. 14 and hitting a 2-iron to within 6 feet on the 227-yard 16th hole.

"I knew my driver would be the last club to come around," Woods said. "It's just timing and a lot of trust. Toward the end I just said the hell with it. Just hit it."

He did, ripping one down the middle on the 613-yard ninth hole then hitting his 3-wood to the first cut of rough short of the green.

The pitch was one shot he knew how to hit. In the early stages of rehabilitation Woods was restricted to chipping and putting, and he often practiced inside his house. Instead of a coffee table, this time he aimed at a pitch mark on the green.

"I tried to fly it over the ball mark, and it turned out perfect," he said. "The pitch shot is something I've been working on because it's all I could do for a while. After a long day like today, to end on that one is pretty cool."

The score wasn't bad, either, considering his tee shots.

"If he can find earth with his driver or 3-wood, he's going to be hard to beat," Oberholser said. "Sixty-six? Man! That rough is 5 or 6 inches deep. ... He's still in another league."

JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC: Ernie Els increased his lead to four in the second round, capping another back-nine scoring frenzy with his second eagle on the par-5 15th. Seeking his fourth victory this year, Els followed his opening 64 with 65 for 15-under 129 on the Lake Karrinyup course in the European/Australasian PGA Tour event. At par through 10, Els made four birdies in a row to retake the lead at 12 under and pulled three strokes ahead with the eagle. He made birdie on the par-4 18th for his second back-nine 29. Robert Allenby and Greg Owen were 11 under after each shot 64.

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