Tiger?s back

Charlotte, NC, May 7, 2004 (The Sports Network via COMTEX) -- Tiger Woods' alleged slump might be history.

The No. 1 ranked player in the world fired a six-under 66 on Friday to jump into the lead after the second round of the Wachovia Championship. He stands at nine-under-par 135 and owns a two-shot lead at Quail Hollow Club.

Woods' 135 established a new 36-hole record at this event, topping Nick Price's mark of 137 in last year's inaugural tournament.

Overnight leader Kirk Triplett managed a one-over 73, but is tied for second place. Woods' Stanford teammate Notah Begay III (70) and Arron Oberholser (68) joined Triplett at seven-under-par 137.

Vijay Singh, who is closer than anyone has ever gotten to Woods' No. 1 spot in the world rankings, carded a two-under 70 and shares fifth place. Stuart Appleby and Brett Quigley each posted rounds of even-par 72 and Joey Sindelar fashioned a three-under 69 to join Singh at minus-six.

All eyes were on Woods on Friday and he produced. He needed only 22 putts in his second round and all aspects of his game were clicking in top form.

But top form is something Woods has not seen in some time. Woods' best finish on tour since his victory at the WGC-Match Play Championship was a tie for 16th at the Players Championship and this is the first time he has even been in the hunt to start the weekend.

"Considering the way I've been playing the last few tournaments, trying to come back from so far back, I've always been one that would much rather be ahead than coming from behind," said Woods, who has not won a major championship since the 2002 U.S. Open.

Woods started on the front nine and promptly birdied the first. He drained a 46-foot birdie putt at the second and suddenly was a major factor on the leaderboard.

He birdied the fifth but dropped his first shot of the tournament at the par- three sixth. Woods overcame the lost stroke at the seventh when he knocked a six-iron on top of the flag and converted the birdie putt.

Woods birdied four of five holes around the turn to reach the top of the leaderboard. He traded a bogey for a birdie at the par-five 15th and 16th but it was still enough to give Woods his first 36-hole lead in a stroke-play tournament since last year's WGC-American Express Championship.

"I hit some good shots. More than anything, I gave myself some looks at the putts and I made them," said Woods, playing in this event for the first time. "It's a nice combination."

So is this so-called "slump" over with?

"It's coming around," said Woods. "Today was a little bit tighter than it was yesterday, and you want to just continue to improve on that. I felt certainly a lot more comfortable."

Woods, despite his second consecutive victory at the WGC-Match Play Championship earlier this season, has not played as well as years past. Swing problems have been part of it but Woods knows grabbing the top spot on the leaderboard, a place where he rarely loses, was key.

"Hopefully I can get out there tomorrow and play just the way I did today, and hopefully Sunday I'll do the same thing," said Woods. "But, this is one of the best events we play on tour besides the majors and the World Golf Championships."

Triplett had a birdie and a double-bogey in his round Friday but is only two off Woods' pace. Triplett thought his course-record 64 from Thursday was in jeopardy less than 24 hours after he set it with the way Woods was playing.

"He was six-under through 12 and I thought I was going to have a course record for less than 12 hours," said Triplett. "You like to have them for a couple of days anyway. Give the ink a chance to dry for that score card they're going to put up in the locker room."

Begay was flawless on Friday with two birdies and no bogeys, while Oberholser tallied four birdies on his back nine to get his share of second place.

Davis Love III (66), Carlos Franco (71), Kevin Sutherland (68), Mike Weir (72), Chris DiMarco (70), Joe Ogilvie (71) and Cameron Beckman (72) are knotted in ninth at minus-five.

Phil Mickelson, the reigning Masters champion, shot his second consecutive round of two-under 70 and is part of a logjam in 16th place at four-under-par 140.

The 36-hole cut fell at even-par 144 and 2003 winner David Toms will not be around to defend his title. He posted a one-under 71 on Friday and finished with a two-day total of two-over-par 146.

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