Campbell still on top at Masters

By Andy Samuelson

Friday, April 10, 2009 | 5 p.m.

Chad Campbell has been in this position before, but experience on this grand of stage does little to ease the nerves.

"There's a long ways to go, but it's definitely nice to not be on foreign ground,” said the former UNLV golfer, who hung onto a share of the lead at the Masters on Friday despite a shaky back nine during second round play.

The 34-year-old Campbell, whose first-round 65 was the lowest opening round in the tourney since Chris DiMarco’s 65 in 2001, finished Friday’s session tied with Kenny Perry with a two-day total of 9-under 135.

While the winds picked up during the second half of play Friday, Campbell was able to close his second-round with a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to finish with a 2-under 70.

“It's always nice to end with a birdie, and especially today, definitely a little bit unhappy with the way I played the back nine,” said Campbell, who had missed the cut three times in his five career trips to the course in Augusta, Ga.

“A couple bogeys and missed opportunities for birdie. But birding the last hole definitely gives me a good attitude going into tomorrow.”

He will likely need it the way Perry surged into a share of the lead on Friday, closing his second-round 6 with a tap-in birdie.

“I really believe I can win this tournament,” said the 48-year-old Perry, who could become the oldest major champion in golf history.

Angel Cabrera is next in line behind Campbell and Perry at 8 under, followed by Todd Campbell (-6), Tim Clark (-5) and a five-man tie at 4 under.

The odds-on favorite to take the event, Tiger Woods, lost ground to the leaders on Friday, shooting a 72.

"A lot of wasted opportunities today," said Woods, who had an 8-foot put on No. 18 lip out. "I didn't get a whole lot out of my round."

No one made a bigger move than Anthony Kim, the emotional leader of last year's winning U.S. Ryder Cup team, which also included Campbell and Perry.

The 23-year-old Californian, who was probably wondering if he would make the cut at his first Masters after his 75 on Thursday, sunk a tournament record for birdies in a round with 11 on Friday to climb back in contention with 140.

"I haven't been making 11 birdies in two days," Kim said. "To make 11 in one day is pretty special, and to do it Augusta is incredible.

"If I can keep my putter hot, I like my chances here."

So too does Campbell.

Three years ago he was in the exact same position, before heavy rains ruined Saturday’s round and forced 32 holes to be played on Sunday.

Campbell, who has four PGA tour victories, never recovered and instead had to settle for a third-place finish, three strokes behind winner Phil Mickelson.

“You know it would have been nice if it just could have went like it’s supposed to,” Campbell said. “I had a chance, an outside chance, on Sunday. I hit a few bad shots and missed some putts.”

While being in this position helps, Campbell said nerves always play a part in his game.

“I’m going to be nervous tomorrow. I was nervous today. That’s just the way it is,” said Campbell, who finished 2008 as the No. 24 player on the tour money list with more than $2.4 million in earnings.

“I actually like being nervous. It means that you are intense and you really care what happens.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.