By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM

DORAL, Fla. -- This is the 46th time in Tiger Woods' career on the PGA TOUR that he has led or shared the lead through 36 holes. Of the previous 45 times, he has converted 35 of them into victory.

The biggest reason Woods has a chance to continue that trend this week: His putting.

Despite needing three more putts in the second round than the first, Woods actually putted beetter on Friday, outperforming the field by four strokes while converting 105 feet worth of putts and going 14-for-14 from inside 10 feet (see chart below for more).

The other reason Woods sits atop the leaderboard: His play on the par 4s.

Usually it's the par 5s where Woods does his damge.

This week, he's made birdie on a field-best 45 percent of the par-4 holes at TPC Blue Monster.

By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM

DORAL, Fla. -- When Graeme McDowell won last year at Sherwood Country Club, he gained more than just a victory over the tournament's host.

"I guess I found a little state of mind at Tiger's event," McDowell said. "I felt very under control and calm emotionally and I've found that really is the best place for me to be when I'm playing great golf."

Friday he did just that, shooting a 67 at TPC Blue Monster to get to 11 under with two rounds to play in the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship.

He'll need that sense of calm come Saturday, too. McDowell will be paired with Woods, who leads by two, in the day's final group.

"I feel like I've learned a lot over the years playing with him," McDowell said. "(Saturday) is not about winning the golf tournament. (It's) just about maintaining position, maintaining the way I'm playing and trying to give myself a chance come Sunday afternoon."

Chief among the things McDowell has learned is to not be intimidated by the "circus" that Woods brings to a final pairing on the weekend of a star-studded tournament.

"It's more the environment that goes on inside and outside the ropes; a little louder, a little busier," McDowell said. "I've learned to understand and control and deal with and get acclimated to it.

"End of the day, it really doesn't matter who you're playing with. You're playing against the golf course."

Not that McDowell didn't notice the leaderboard, which included Phil Mickelson, who nearly played his way into the final pairing.

"I'm sure they would have liked Tiger and Phil in the last group tomorrow," McDowell said. "It would have been great for the tournament. It brings the crowds and puts people behind their TV screens and that's what's important.

"I saw Phil sneaking up the leaderboard there behind me and I said to (my caddie) Kenny (Comboy), 'Let's spoil this party tomorrow.'"

By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM

DORAL, Fla. -- Rory McIlroy was walking from the 15th green to the 16th green Friday when he spotted his mom Rosie, turned to her, and said, "Oh my God, I'm in red numbers."

As crazy as it might sound coming fom the No. 1 player in the world, there was truth behind the joke.

McIlroy broke par for the first time in 2013, carding a 3-under 69 Friday at TPC Blue Monster.

It was also a step in the right direction for McIlroy, who missed the cut in his first start of the year and was eliminated in the first round of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship.

Then came The Honda Classic, where he was 7 over through eight holes in his second round when he walked off the course and withdrew, citing a toothache.

McIlroy later apologized for quitting and admitted he made the wrong decision.

Thursday, his play wasn't much better with an opening-round 73 in which he hit just three fairways. Afterward, he went to the range with swing coach Michael Bannon.

Friday, McIlroy appeared to have found at least some rhythm.

His pre-shot waggle was gone and the birdies were back -- six in all -- with just three bogeys.

"It's nice to shoot something in the 60s," McIlroy said. "Definitely something to build on over the next couple of days.

"I saw a lot of positives. I saw a lot of good signs out there."

Maybe none better than on the par-5 eighth hole, where he hit a 6-iron from 217 yards to just outside 5 feet. He missed the putt but still made birdie.

On the par-5 10th, his 3-wood from 257 yards landed just short of the green and he got up-and-down for another birdie.

"It's about the ball‑striking and the ball‑striking is getting there," McIlroy said. "Days like today were very pleasing because it shows that I'm going in the right direction."

By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM

DORAL, Fla. -- Sometimes less is more, at least for Steve Stricker.

At the end of last year, Stricker thought about playing the 2013 opener in Maui, then hanging up his spikes for good.

Instead, he decided to simply cut back on his schedule, saying he'd limit himself to about 10 events this season. It seems to be paying dividends.

Stricker finished second at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, took six weeks off, then reached the quarterfinals of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship before losing.

Going into the weekend at the WGC-Cadillac Championship, Stricker again finds himself in contention after a 67 in the second round.

He trails leader Tiger Woods, whom he helped with his putting earlier in the week, by three.

"I feel good about the decision that I've made," Stricker said. "I'm enjoying it and I can tell in my attitude out here. The biggest thing is I'm coming out here rested, refreshed, excited to play and it's showing in my game, too."

Through his first 36 holes at TPC Blue Monster, Stricker has made 11 birdies and just one bogey. He's also eighth in the field in greens hit and has taken just 53 total putts.

While Stricker doesn't expect the rest of his season to have as long of a break between starts as he did earlier this year, the time off has clearly helped the 46-year-old.

As for whether he regrets giving that putting lesson to the player he's now trying to catch?

"Yes and no," Stricker said. "Not really. It's good to see him putting well and playing well. It's good for us, it's good for the game."

Just like fewer starts have been for Stricker.

DORAL, Fla. -- Tiger Woods made eight birdies Friday on his way to a 65 and a two-stroke lead at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship.

His 17 birdies through the first two rounds is a career high through the first two rounds of a PGA TOUR event, besting his previous of 16 at the 2007 TOUR Championship, the 2000 WGC-NEC Invitational and the 1999 GTE Byron Nelson Classic.

Two of those times, Woods went on to win.

The way he's putted this week, another victory might not be far off.

Woods took just 26 putts in the second round, giving him 49 for the week -- second-fewest in the field. He was 14-for-14 from inside 10 feet and made four more beyond that range.

He wasn't the only one to play well, though.

On a pristine day with little wind at TPC Blue Monster, eight others shot 67 or lower. Among them were Graeme McDowell and Phil Mickelson, who are two and three shots back, respectively.

Steve Stricker also shot 67 and is tied with Mickelson for third.

Five others, including Bubba Watson, Charl Schwartzel, Keegan Bradley and Dustin Johnson, are within six of Woods entering the weekend on what is a star-studded leaderboard.

Even Rory McIlroy played well, recording his first round in red numbers this season with a 69.

By PGATOUR.COM staff

No doubt about it, Tiger Woods is in control of his golf game.

Woods has birdied seven of his past 10 holes and currently leads by two shots in the second round of the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship.

Woods is bombing tee shots and working the ball quite well with his irons. On the par-3 13th hole, Woods played a beautiful fade to within 15 feet of the hole. Woods then buried the putt for birdie and is 13 under for the tournament.

Woods, who has hit 12 of 13 greens in regulation so far, has 16 birdies through 31 holes in the event -- which matches his career high.

Graeme McDowell carded a second-round 5-under 67 and was at 11-under 133. Phil Mickelson just tapped in for birdie on the ninth to post a 6-under 67. He's at 10 under for the tournament.