Tiger charges after English leaders at Masters

Augusta :

Tiger Woods made a charge on Friday at the Masters while Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter, each trying to be the first Englishman since 1996 to win a major golf title, battled atop the leaderboard.

World number one Woods, who fired his best first round in 16 Masters starts with a four-under 68 yesterday, birdied the par-5 13th to reach five-under and a share of fourth, trailing the British pace-setters and American Anthony Kim.

Westwood eagled the par-5 second and followed with a birdie, then answered a bogey at the fifth with birdies on the next two holes to stand on nine-under par with Poulter, who matched him with a birdie on the par-3 16th.

Making his return after a five-month layoff in the wake of a sex scandal, Woods appeared content with a conservative style as pin placements were far more punitive at Augusta National Golf Club than in round one.

Shame and remorse over his admitted cheating on wife Elin with multiple mistresses has not seemed to diminish Woods' golf skills. Those who said the scandal could make the 14-time major winner more formidable appear correct.

"It's actually scary to think that if he gets his mind a little bit free and uncluttered that it could be better," world number two Steve Stricker said.

Woods birdied the second hole but took a bogey at the par-3 fourth, then parred his way through until 13 before parring the 14th as well.