22nd straight Masters cut for Fred Couples

Former champion Fred Couples made the U.S. Masters cut for the 22nd consecutive time after vaulting into contention with a two-under-par 70 in Friday's second round.

The 46-year-old American, winner at Augusta National in 1992, finished on three-under 141, three strokes adrift of tournament leader Chad Campbell.

Couples, who made his Masters debut in 1983, lipped out with a birdie attempt from eight feet at the par-four last that would have secured him outright second place.

He tapped in for par to end a difficult day of gusting winds in a share of second with compatriot Rocco Mediate and first-round leader Vijay Singh of Fiji.

"That was a tough course today," Couples told reporters after moving into second place in the all-time list for successive Masters cuts. His run of 22 is the longest active streak.

"It wasn't really so hard to play the course but it was tough to get the ball close.

"I feel like I'm a very good lag putter, and you have to do that here. My eye catches the slopes pretty well."

The former world number one has produced nine top-10 finishes at Augusta, the most recent a tie for sixth in 2004.

Couples, urged on by adoring crowds, got to four under for the tournament with four holes to play before bogeying the par-five 15th where he found water with his second shot.

"I had a four-iron out, then took a five-iron out and smoked it going right at the flag," he said.

"I thought it was going to be a shot that would hit up on the green and stay on the back, but it just came up short. That was a let-down because I hit such a good shot and I just mis-clubbed."

Couples also bogeyed the par-three 16th but, to his credit, recovered with a birdie on 17 to stay in touch with the lead.

"When I did hit a good shot today, I made a putt for birdie. I was driving it where I had nine-irons and wedges to a lot of the holes. I think this course is set up for my game.

"Tomorrow is a day where I'm not going to be disappointed if I don't play well. I expect to do well but I don't play great golf a lot and that's being in positions like this," added Couples, whose last PGA Tour victory came at the 2003 Houston Open.

Three-times champion Gary Player of South Africa made a record 23 consecutive cuts at Augusta between 1959 and 1982.

Twice winner Tom Watson lies third in the standings, with 21 cuts in a row from 1975 to 1995.