MELBOURNE -- Tiger Woods fired a bogey-free, 4-under-par 68 on Friday to open up a three-stroke lead in the JBWere Masters at Kingston Heath Golf Club. He has a 36-hole score of 10-under 134, three better than Greg Chalmers, James Nitties and Jason Dufner.
The No. 1-ranked Woods attracted another enormous gallery, which measured 10-deep on many holes. It's his first trip to Australia since the 1998 Presidents Cup.
A late starter with Craig Parry and defending champion Rod Pampling, Woods began the second round tied for the lead with James Nitties and Branden Grace at 6-under.
Woods quickly pulled ahead with birdies at the par-5 first and par-4 second holes. He climbed to 3-under on the side with a 17-foot birdie putt at the par-4 sixth. After pars at seven and eight, Woods made a nice save at the par-4 ninth, overcoming a poor drive by sinking a 10-foot putt to make the turn in 3-under 33.
After pars at 10 and 11, Woods birdied the 12th hole -- his fifth consecutive birdie on the par-5s. Unable to reach the green in two, he played a nice third shot seven feet left of the hole and knocked in the putt.
A poor second shot at the par-5 14th found a bunker 100 yards short of the green. Woods blasted to the front of the green and faced a long birdie putt, leaving it 10 feet short of the hole. But he managed to make the par putt to retain the lead.
At the par-3 15th, the signature hole on the course, Woods hit a beautiful tee shot 12 feet left of the hole and left his birdie attempt one revolution short. He gave himself another great chance at the par-4 16th but couldn't convert from six feet.
Woods hit his approach shot at the par-4 17th just over the back of the putting surface, the ball refusing to check up. After backing off his birdie putt due to camera noise, he two-putted for a par. Woods also two-putted the par-4 18th from 25 feet, then tipped his cap to the appreciative crowd.
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