Woods finishes Round 2 at Valspar in contention

Tiger Woods’ latest comeback continues to look more like a reunion tour. On Friday he reunited with someone he hasn’t seen in years.

The clubhouse lead.

Woods shot a 3-under 68 in the second round of the Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor, Fla., finishing his round in a tie atop the leaderboard at 4-under par 138 before a new leader emerged.

Ryan Palmer fired a 66, and Paul Casey and Brandt Snedeker also shot 68s to finish at 4 under through two rounds. First-round leader Corey Connors, who shot a 4-under 67 on Thursday, shot 3-under par through eight holes on Friday to once again take sole possession of the lead.

But the story is Woods, who enters the weekend clearly in contention.

“I’m there with a chance [to win] going into the weekend,’ Woods said, per Golfweek. “Today was a good day.”

Woods, a 14-time major champion who hasn’t won an event since the 2013 WGC Bridgestone Invitational, had four birdies and a bogey Friday on Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course. A day earlier, he battled tough conditions to finish with nine pars, four bogeys and five birdies.

“I’m looking forward to [the weekend],” Woods continued. “I felt like I was able to grind today out. Today was a tough day especially early on with it being so cold. I thought I was very patient in the way I hit the golf ball today, placed it away from a lot of flags and when I had a few chances I took a run at them, I was able to convert.”

According to ESPN’s Jason Sobel, this marks the first time Woods stood atop a leaderboard in 2 1/2 years.

Woods, who came in 12th in last month’s Honda Classic, is set to play in the Arnold Palmer Invitational next week in Orlando, Fla.

The performance by the 42-year-old Woods is even more impressive when considering his company. He is playing alongside Jordan Spieth and Henrik Stenson, who are a combined 11-over par through two rounds.

Woods is attempting a comeback on the PGA Tour after enduring four back surgeries.

–Field Level Media