GRAND BLANC, Mich. — Tiger Woods is in his major mode a week early.
Woods, playing in his first tournament since his chance for a Grand Slam ended, shot a 9-under 63 Friday and pulled away from the field, leading by four strokes after two rounds at the Buick Open.
Woods, who began the day two strokes behind Kent Jones, had five birdies on the front nine and two birdies and an eagle on the back. He has gone 51 holes without a bogey, dating to the final round of the British Open, what could have been the third leg of the Grand Slam.
The last major, the PGA Championship, is next week at Hazeltine in Minnesota.
At 10 under were Scott Verplank, who shot a 65, and J.J. Henry, who was 5 under for the second straight day.
WOMEN'S BRITISH OPEN: At Turnberry, Scotland, Australia's Karrie Webb made two eagles to improve her chances for a third Women's British Open title, while Swedish star Annika Sorenstam missed the cut.
Webb shot a 1-under 71 to move within a stroke of Sweden's Carin Koch and Taiwan's Candie Kung. Koch shot her second straight 68 to join Kung, the first-round rounder, at 8 under.
Americans Beth Bauer (67) and Tina Barrett (70) and Spain's Paula Marti (68) matched Webb at 7 under.
3M CHAMPIONSHIP: At Blaine, Minn., James Mason shot a course-record 8-under 64 to take a two-stroke lead over Hale Irwin after the first round of the 3M Championship.
WALES OPEN: At Newport, Wales, Scotland's Paul Lawrie reached 9 under before rain forced the suspension of the second round of the Wales Open.
GREAT LAKES CLASSIC: At Green Bay, Wis., Pat Bradley and Barb Moxness shot 4-under 68s to share the first-round lead in the Women's Senior Golf Tour's Great Lakes Classic.
Bradley, who won 31 tournaments in her Hall of Fame career on the LPGA Tour, had four birdies in a bogey-free round on the Green Bay Country Club course.
Patty Sheehan, Jan Stephenson and Marilyn Lovander opened with 69s, and Barb Scherbak, Sue Ertl and Chris Johnson shot 70s. Defending champion Hollis Stacy was in a group at 71.