While looking over his putt Friday on No. 11, Tiger Woods (Stats | Bio) felt he had momentum. Already, he was at 1-under par for the round and, if he could make this birdie, he'd be back officially on the comeback trail.

He blew it.

"The putt was a simple putt," Woods said. "But I had a terrible putt. It was a big putt because I had to keep the momentum going."

He'd only have to wait two holes to get it back.

With birdies on Nos. 13, 15 and 16, Woods again placed himself within striking distance of the leaders, recording 3-under-par 69 in Friday's second round to get to even-par overall.

Forget about missing the cut for the first time in 121 starts. Now he's oozing the momentum he thought he had lost.

"I'm still here," said Woods, whose 36-hole total of 144 left him six shots behind Justin Rose (Stats | Bio) .

"I hit a lot of good shots, and I gave myself a few looks at some putts."

Woods got back on track early Friday morning while completing the first round, which was halted Thursday because of darkness.

Beginning the day at 4-over, the three-time Masters champion birdied No. 15 and, once he teed off for the second round, slowly crept toward level par.

"You have to take baby steps," Woods said. "I tried to get back to even par or under-par after 36 holes. I thought that was reasonable with the way I was hitting the ball. I need to keep that momentum going."

Ah, momentum. He earned that in the middle of the back nine in his second round.

After missing the putt on No. 11, he two-putted from 40 feet to birdie the par-5 13th; he used a 7-iron to chip within 8 feet before birdieing No. 15; and on No. 16, he nailed a 40-footer on the par-3 hole.

But for the second year in a row, patrons could discuss Woods' mediocre first round and whether he could right himself in time to make the cut.

Last year, he shot 76 in the first round before rebounding with 73 in the second to make the cut by a single stroke. He went on to shoot 66 in the third round to get back into contention.

He finished this year's first round with 75, but surprised few with his fiery round Friday.

It sure beats ending the day sweating about cut lines.

"Thursday was a difficult day," Woods said. "I just knew that I had to give myself a chance and make some birdies. I'm looking all right. I just hung in there."

Reach Josh Katzowitz at (706) 823-3216 or josh.katzowitz@augustachronicle.com.