AUGUSTA, Ga. B次元官网网址� Tiger Woods made the largest logjam in Masters history look even bigger by making Augusta National sound as loud as ever.

Even on a Friday, in the rain.

GolfB次元官网网址檚 best worked their way to the top of the leaderboard at a Masters pregnant with possibilities. The first five-way tie for the lead after 36 holes at Augusta featured Francesco Molinari, Jason Day, Brooks Koepka, Adam Scott and Louis Oosthuizen.

All of them are major champions. Three have been No. 1 in the world.

Looming just as large was Woods, who atoned for missing two birdie chances inside 8 feet on the back nine with consecutive birdie putts from 30 feet that sent him to a 4-under 68 and left him one shot behind.

Woods was tied with Dustin Johnson, another major champion and world No. 1, along with Xander Schauffele and Masters newcomer Justin Harding of South Africa.

If thatB次元官网网址檚 not enough, Phil Mickelson and Justin Thomas were very much in the mix.

Look at the break on this putt. knows the line.

B次元官网网址� PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR)

B次元官网网址淭his is really stacked,B次元官网网址� Scott said. B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 going to be an incredible weekend no matter what happens now.B次元官网网址�

Woods has gone 14 years since he last won the green jacket, 11 years since his last major and had five surgeries B次元官网网址� four on his back, the other to rebuild his left knee.

But he feels heB次元官网网址檚 getting closer.

B次元官网网址淭he last three majors, IB次元官网网址檝e been right there,B次元官网网址� Woods said.

He briefly held the lead Sunday in the British Open. He chased Koepka to the finish line in the PGA Championship. And now he goes into the weekend one shot behind, the closest he has been to a lead going into the weekend at a major since the 2013 British Open at Muirfield.

But thatB次元官网网址檚 not just anyone heB次元官网网址檚 trailing.

Molinari, the British Open champion who has shown he belongs among the elite in golf, had a 67 and was the first to reach 7-under 137. Day was right behind, coping with nagging soreness in his lower back with a 67 to match the Italian.

Koepka, the U.S. Open and PGA champion, began with a birdie to quickly take the lead, only to hit out of the pine straw, off a tree and into the creek to make double bogey on the par-5 second hole. He made two more bogeys before reaching the seventh hole, and then pulled himself together to salvage a 71.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e going to be tested in a major championship one way or another,B次元官网网址� Koepka said. B次元官网网址淚 hit a bad shot just got to suck it up and just keep going on. YouB次元官网网址檝e got a lot of holes left, and you can make up some ground. Thankfully, it wasnB次元官网网址檛 on the 18th hole where you need a par to win or something. Just got to keep battling and see where I leave myself tomorrow afternoon.B次元官网网址�

Scott was the only player to reach 8 under with a 2-iron into 5 feet for eagle on the 15th, only to miss a 3-foot par putt on the 16th. It added up to a 68 for the Australian who won the Masters six years ago, and has gone three years since his last victory.

He had a chance to win the PGA Championship in his last major until Koepka pulled away and Scott made a careless bogey at the end to finish third. He has shown flashes this year on the West Coast, at Torrey Pines and Riviera, but has geared his game toward this week.

Here he is, with a lot of company.

B次元官网网址淟ook, tomorrow is a very important day because thereB次元官网网址檚 no doubt someone in the top 15, or a few of them, are going to play very well,B次元官网网址� Scott said. B次元官网网址淭his is the best players in the world on the biggest stage that we all want to be in so badly.B次元官网网址�

Corey Conners (71) of Listowel, Ont., was in a group tied for 16th at 3-under par, four shots back of the leaders. Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., missed the cut by a shot.

RELATED:

The only scare for Woods came on the 14th hole, when his drive went well left into the trees. The shot was pure, hooking around the pines to the green. On his quick walk to the fairway to see where the shot finished, a Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent rushing over to control the spectators behind Woods slipped on the rain-slickened grass and slid into WoodsB次元官网网址� right leg.

Woods hopped out of the way, winced and repeatedly flexed his ankle, and then poured in another putt.

He didnB次元官网网址檛 show any trouble the rest of the way, and didnB次元官网网址檛 find much interest in talking about it after his round except to say B次元官网网址渁ccidents happenB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 all good.B次元官网网址� He was particularly happy to finish, especially after storms moved into the area and stopped play right after his tee shot into 5 feet on the dangerous par-3 12th.

The delay lasted only 29 minutes. Woods returned to miss the putt, and then took three shots from 35 feet behind the par-5 13th green to lose another prime birdie opportunity. But he made it up for them with a couple of long birdie putts, and he had no complaints with his position.

B次元官网网址淚 feel like I played my own way back into the tournament,B次元官网网址� Woods said. B次元官网网址淚 was just very patient today, felt very good to be out there doing what I was doing. This is now three straight majors that IB次元官网网址檝e been in the mix and so itB次元官网网址檚 good stuff.B次元官网网址�

Mickelson stumbled to a 73 but still was only three shots behind. Bryson DeChambeau, who shared the 18-hole lead with Koepka, went bogey-double bogey around the turn and shot 75. He still was within four shots, along with Justin Thomas, who had a 68.

As for Rory McIlroy, the career Grand Slam might need to wait another year. McIlroy played the par 5s in even B次元官网网址� two bogeys, one par and an eagle on No. 8 that got him under par, but only briefly. He was only seven shots behind, but he had 35 players in front of him.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Like us on and follow us on