Gary Player

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods finished his second round at the Masters and then went right back to work.

Headed for the practice range, Woods was far from pleased with his even-par 72 Friday at Augusta National Golf Club.

“I’ve got to play a little better than I have,” Woods said. “Make a few more putts and clean up my round.”

Woods opened with a 70 — a good omen considering he has won each of three previous times he posted that score in the first round.

However, he sits seven shots behind co-leaders Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell, and Woods has never won a major after trailing by more than six at the halfway point.

Asked if he could overcome a seven-shot deficit, Woods gave an answer as direct as a 2-foot putt.

“Yeah.”

Woods is tied with eight others, including 1988 Masters champ Sandy Lyle. Woods and playing partner Graeme McDowell will tee off at 1:05 p.m. today.

Rules, rules, rules

After hitting a shot from the greenside bunker at No. 18, Rory McIlroy almost cost himself a shot at the weekend.

McIlroy, who made a triple-bogey 7 on the final hole to finish at 1 over par Friday, failed to get his ball out of the sand and kicked the dirt in frustration.

The rules committee called him back to the course to discuss the events, because according to rule 13-4 of the Rules of Golf a player cannot “test” the condition of a hazard before playing a shot in the hazard.

After discussing the scenario with McIlroy and reviewing the tape, the committee determined no violation had occurred. If they had decided a violation had happened, he would have been disqualified for the signing of an incorrect scorecard.

McIlroy was at 2 under for the tournament before the debacle at the final hole and heads into the weekend at 1 over.

And more rules

A strong gust cost Padraig Harrington a shot at the 15th green. Looking for his third consecutive major title, Harrington had addressed his birdie putt and backed away when the wind moved the ball almost a yard. After conferring with an official, he had to take a penalty and replace the ball at its previous spot.

He made the par putt and finished at 2 under, seven shots off the lead in his effort to complete the next step in his “Paddy Slam.”

“I had a 4-footer for birdie. As I got over it, the wind was starting to move. I was more thinking about the line than anything else,” he said. “The wind gusted up and blew my ball three feet into the wind, which is a little bit strange. I didn’t have a problem walking off the 15th at all.”

Harrington said the ruling was the correct one.

On the way home

After missing the cut for the first time last year, Fred Couples is missing the last two rounds again. He is far from alone among former major champions who will be watching this weekend.

Ernie Els (2 over), Reteif Goosen (2 over) and Zach Johnson (6 over) missed the cut, which was at 1 over and ties.