Duval takes narrow lead with 65

The view from the top of the leaderboard was almost as daunting as what David Duval saw in front of him today at The Masters.

Ahead of him on the 10th green was Jack Nicklaus, a 60-year-old with a ceramic hip and six green jackets, conjuring up more magic at Augusta National.

Chasing him were Ernie Els, a two-time U.S. Open champion, and Vijay Singh, just two years removed from his PGA Championship.

And then there was Phil Mickelson, desperate to certify his career with his first major.

The one glaring exception -- Tiger Woods.

The Masters got that major championship feeling back, its leaderboard packed with winners of all the Grand Slam events, including Nicklaus, who has won them again and again.

Duval took a big step toward his first by blitzing the back nine for 30 en route to a 7-under-par 65, his best score ever in a major, which gave him a one-stroke lead going into the weekend.

And what a weekend this could be.

"I devoted the last six months to this week," Duval said. "I feel like it's all coming together."

While Woods failed to break 70 for the 10th straight time at Augusta, an old rival with a new look is halfway home to his first major. Sporting chic clothes on a sleek body, Duval played the last seven holes in 6-under to finish at 138.

"We were trying to figure out how many majors had been won between the group ahead of us," Duval said, a number that reaches 34 with Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.

Right behind on a relatively calm, gorgeous day was Els (66), Singh (67) and Mickelson, who had to settle for a 68 after missing a 6-foot birdie putt on the 18th.

"The leaderboard is very strong, and it's going to be difficult for players to separate themselves," Mickelson said.

Added Els: "There's probably no leader at all until Sunday afternoon."

Tom Lehman, the 1996 British Open champion, had another double bogey that cost him the lead, this one on the par-5 15th. He still managed a 72 and was at 141, along with another U.S. Open winner, Steve Jones.

"I made double without hitting a bad shot, which can happen here," Lehman said.

Indeed, anything can happen at Augusta.

How else to explain Nicklaus, who still has endless dreams of winning a seventh green jacket. His only two bogeys were inches away from easy birdies, and he squandered several birdie chances.

Still, Nicklaus had few complaints about a 2-under 70 to finish at 144, six strokes out of the lead. He became the oldest player to break par in The Masters since 62-year-old Sam Snead had a 71 in 1975.

"Do I think I have a good shot at winning the tournament? Probably not," Nicklaus said. "Does that mean if I get down to the end I can't make something happen? Absolutely, I've got to believe it."

Believe this -- Woods, who at times has looked close to unbeatable the past year, has some major work to do this weekend.

The No. 1 player in the world and prohibitive favourite to win his second Masters made bogey on two of the last three holes. Woods three-putted from 50 feet on No. 16 and from the fringe on the 18th for an even-par 72. He was at 147, nine strokes behind on a day when the course played three strokes easier than Thursday.

"I'm still in it," Woods insisted. "But I've got to play two good, solid rounds over the weekend, and then we'll see what happens."

Anything is possible because Woods has developed almost as much mystique about him as Nicklaus. Having won six straight PGA Tour events at one point and 10 out of his last 17, Woods has an intimidating presence on the course.

Today, Nicklaus took some of that back.

"How can you not consider him a serious contender on this golf course?" said Loren Roberts, who had a 69 to finish in the group at 142 that included two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer, former PGA champion Jeff Sluman, and Sergio Garcia.

Garcia made it a sprint to the finish. With his tee shot on the par-3 16th hanging dangerously close to a severe slope, he ran 150 yards to the green to mark his ball before it rolled 30 feet down the hill.

Duval, meanwhile, sees The Masters as a slow dance.

"I had no desire to be leading the tournament," he said. "I've had one goal, and I've had it for a long time. That's to be leading when we're done on Sunday."

Duval has known heartache the past two years, a runner-up in 1998 when Mark O'Meara birdied the last two holes, and a Sunday pretender a year ago when he blew up on the back nine. Duval has been burning for another chance ever since the Ryder Cup Matches ended.

"This would be the fulfilment of a dream," Duval said.

A 12-foot birdie on the 12th hole put him under par for the first time in the tournament and lightened the load of expectations he has placed on trimmed shoulders.

All of a sudden, every aspect of his game is working in perfect harmony.

A 5-iron from 208 yards stopped 10 feet below the hole on No. 15 for eagle. His wedge into the 17th nearly hit the hole on its second stop, setting up a 4-foot birdie. He polished off his 65 with a 12-foot birdie on the 18th.

Duval has not won in 53 weeks, but he admitted he was more dialed in to his fitness craze -- and The Masters -- to get too wrapped up in that.

"I was most concerned I peaked with my golf and my strength," he said. "I wanted to be ready when I got here."

Get ready for what shapes up to be a dynamic weekend.

Mickelson, who has won twice in his last six starts, had a share of the lead until he flubbed a chip on the 16th for his only bogey of the day.

He and Duval share a dubious distinction -- the best Americans never to win a major. Perhaps that will change Sunday.

"We've been saying that for a while now, haven't we?" Els said. "Both of them are really tough competitors. Some week, they'll get their major -- hopefully, not this week."