Tiger Woods got everyone's attention Friday at the Masters, where he splashed the back nine with an array of birdies - five in all and three in a row - to climb into contention after a stirring 6-under 66.
Woods is tied for third with K.J. Choi at 7-under 137, just three shots behind 36-hole leader Rory McIlroy and one shot behind Jason Day.
And he finished with a splash, rolling in a 12-foot birdie putt from the right side of the hole at the 18th.
"It was nice to get it going," Woods said. "I'm three back so I played myself back into the championship. We've got 36 holes left, so there's a long way to go."
If Woods' round was eventful, Phil Mickelson's turned out to be routine. The defending champion shot an even-par 72 and is 2-under, tied for 20th. He did not have a birdie after the 10th hole and finished with seven straight pars.
"I left too many shots out there," Mickelson said. "But that's all in the past and we've got the weekend to look forward to. Fortunately I'm not in that bad a spot where if I can go out and shoot a good round, I can get right back in it.
"These next two days are my favorite two days of the year, the weekend of the Masters . . . I'm going to have to make a good run tomorrow."
Woods ran off birdies in bunches - the 8th, 9th and 10th, and also the 13th, 14th and 15th. He hit a 3-wood and 3-iron to 10 feet at the 13th, a 3-wood and a full wedge to 18 inches at the 14th, and then a driver and a 5-iron to the 15th that led to a two-putt birdie from 35 feet.
Woods established himself as a contender for a fifth Masters title with a nine-birdie day, offsetting his three bogeys that included a three-putt at the 7th. But Woods was able to answer each of his bogeys with a birdie. He credited his patience.
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