Stuart Appleby fired a two under par 68 to take a two shot lead over 36 hole co-leader K.J. Choi.  Appleby, playing with a hairline crack in his driver, had five birdies and three bogeys in an up and down round that left him at nine under par 201 atop the leader board. "I’m not concerned who honors an event or who titles an event or anything," said Appleby, seeking his ninth tour victory and first of 2007. "Because winning, once you’ve won or had a drought, it feels great. And not winning feels a little shallow and empty. So if I could join all the good feelings in winning and with Tiger, his inaugural event — I’m sure I’ll let him know. He’ll be back at me, trust me. He’s got a quick tongue."

Choi was five back after the 14th hole, but ran off three straight birdies for an even par round of 70,  alone in second place with a 203 total.

Steve Stricker is another shot back after a 67, the same score as fourth place Mike Weir at five under par.

Tiger Woods was inches from brilliance. "I turned a 63 or 64 into a 69 very smoothly," Woods said, after missing a number of putts that left his huge gallery moaning and groaning.  "It’s frustrating, it really is," Woods said. "There’s no denying that. When you hit good putts and you think they are looking dead center, they kind of wander left or right, it is frustrating. And that’s the way it goes sometimes. You have to be patient, which I was all day. I’m still in the ballgame."

"He played fantastic tee-to-green and really seemed to putt well — and holed nothing," said Woods’ playing partner, Kevin Stadler, who also shot a 69 and had a hole-in-one at the par-3 13th. "I’m sure he’ll be excited looking forward to tomorrow because if he had another inch it would have been 62, 63, or 64."

Woods added lead tape to his putter after a tough day putting during Thursdays 73.  That led to a round of 66 and a leap up the leaderboard.  Who knows what changes he’ll make for today. 

The only certainty is that it’ll be fun to watch.