AUGUSTA, Ga. — Chad Campbell was labeled the next big thing in golf a couple of years ago in a poll by Sports Illustrated. While he's won a couple of tournaments and more than $10 million on the PGA Tour, he's still looking for his first major victory.

He took a big step Friday, taking advantage of ideal conditions early in the day to emerge with the second-round lead at the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club.

The 31-year-old former UNLV golfer fired a 5-under-par 67 and grabbed a three-shot lead over first-day leader Vijay Singh, Rocco Mediate and Fred Couples. Campbell stands at 6-under-par 138 at the midway point of golf's first major of the year.

Phil Mickelson is one of four golfers at 142, while Tiger Woods is lurking five shots off the pace at 143 with six golfers.

Utah resident Mike Weir made an early move up the leaderboard only to fall back. He stands at even-par 144 after a second-round 73.

The day belonged to Campbell, who teed off at 9:39 a.m. before the wind kicked up at Augusta. Most of the other leaders teed off after noon when the wind was swirling, and it affected their scores.

"In the afternoon, it was three or four shots tougher, easily," said Weir, who went off at 12:57 p.m. "The wind was tough — it swirled around quite a bit. The morning guys didn't have it."

Actually, Campbell did have some wind later in his round, but it must not have affected him because he made his move on the back nine when it was windier.

After shooting a 34 on the front nine, he made consecutive birdies at 12, 13 and 14, sinking putts from 20, 10 and six feet. He didn't birdie the par-5 15th, bogeyed the 17th and sank a 15-footer at the last hole.

"It's special to be leading after two rounds," Campbell said. "Obviously, my goal is to be leading after four rounds, but it's a good start and hopefully I'll have a good weekend."

Singh, the 2000 Masters champion, looked like he might run away from the field when he birdied two of the first three holes. However, he made back-to-back double bogeys and added another double bogey on the back nine before, rallying with a couple of late birdies.

Mediate shot a 73 to retain a piece of second place, while Couples, playing in the final group of the day, shot a 70, despite the tougher conditions.

"It was a tough course today," Couples said. "When I teed off at 1:45, the wind had started to pick up fairly nicely. It was just tough."

Woods, looking for his second straight Masters win and fifth overall, didn't make a move Friday until late in his round, logging a pair of birdies to move to 1-under par for the tournament. He played in the group just in front of Couples and shot a 71 and stands at 143.

Utah amateur Clay Ogden improved on his opening-round 83 with a 76, but it still left him 11 shots off the cut, which came at 148.

Weir climbed as high as a tie for third place after he shot 34 on the front nine and moved to 3-under par. He made birdies at the two par-5s on the front nine — Nos. 2 and 8 — and was only behind Campbell and Singh when he made the turn.

Then he hit what he called one of his only two bad shots of the day when his drive went right at the par-4 10th hole. He couldn't reach the green in 2 and then couldn't get up and down for par.

Weir also bogeyed the 11th and 13th holes when he barely missed the fairways with his drives and fell back to even par. On the last three holes Weir saved par with putts from the 6- to 8-foot putt range.

"I feel I should be in better shape for the way I'm playing," Weir said. "But I'm still in good shape for the weekend. It doesn't really start until tomorrow. As long as you're within eight shots, you're probably in contention."

Weir tees off with Arron Oberholser at 1 p.m. EDT, nearly two hours ahead of Campbell and Mediate, who go off at 2:50.

Masters leaderboard

Leaders

Chad Campbell 71-67 - 138

Rocco Mediate 68-73 - 141

Vijay Singh 67-74 - 141

Fred Couples 71-70 - 141

Phil Mickelson 70-72 - 142

Ernie Els 71-71 - 142

Others

Tiger Woods 72-71 - 143

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Mike Weir 71-73 - 144

Missed Cut

Clay Ogden 83-76 - 159


E-mail: sor@desnews.com

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