Paul Lawrie is at his best when all eyes are on someone else.

With most of the attention on Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia in their first round playing together in competition, Lawrie sloshed his way through 35 holes and three shots today to grab a share of the lead with Carlos Franco in the NEC Invitational at Firestone Country Club.

Lawrie played only his first tee shot in the $5 million World Golf Championship event before play was suspended by storms Thursday. He had a 3-under 67 this morning, then followed with a 68 to head into the weekend at 135.

Franco, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour in his rookie season, played 31 holes and had rounds of 68 and 67.

"You know you're going to have two rounds in one day, you know you're going to be tired," Lawrie said. "You've just got to do the job and get on with it. I'm very, very tired -- but I played pretty good."

Lawrie won the Open last month and hardly anyone noticed, particularly because of the stunning collapse by Jean Van de Velde. Even now, most references to Carnoustie start with the Frenchman, not the fact Lawrie finished the four-hole playoff against Van de Velde and Justin Leonard with two spectacular birdies. Maybe that will change if can beat all the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup players assembled in the NEC Invitational.

"Whether I've got respect from the Open or not, I don't have a problem with it," Lawrie said. "I know that if I play well, I'm going to have a chance of winning wherever I play. I feel a bit more at ease with myself out there."

Phil Mickelson, Hal Sutton and Nick Price were one stroke back at 136, in great position for each to try to win for the first time this year.

Meanwhile, Woods and Garcia failed to put on a show anything close to the final round of the PGA Championship two weeks ago at Medinah, where Woods was one group behind the dynamic Spanish teen-ager and had to hold off a late charge to win.

There weren't many thrills this afternoon -- no fist-pumps by Woods, no impossible shots around tree trunks for Garcia.

Woods, who finished off a 66 in the morning to lead after the first round, couldn't get anything going with his putter in a second-round 71. His only one-putt birdie came on No. 17, after which he mockingly raised his arms to the sky, showing more emotion than he did after winning the PGA.

"It's Friday," Woods said of playing with Garcia in a threesome that included Tom Lehman. "There was not a lot of talk on the course."

Garcia was in under the trees, behind the trees, everywhere but inside one of the trees. He still managed an even-par 70 and was tied with Woods at 3-under.

"Neither of us played very well, but these things happen," Garcia said.

Also at 137 were U.S. Open champion Payne Stewart, Davis Love III, Mark Calcavecchia and Craig Parry, whose 66 was the best 18 holes of the day.

Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal, who set the course record in 1990 with a 61, found the torturous side of Firestone today. After completing a 70 in the morning, he had two double bogeys and a triple bogey for an 80.

David Duval experienced similar frustration, although nothing of that nature. Tied for the lead twice during the day, the defending champion at Firestone started missing fairways and greens and short par putts. Three straight bogeys on the back nine dropped him to a 72 for 1-under 139.

He was among 21 players at even-par 140 or better, all of them very much in the hunt for the winner's check of $1 million.

With the Ryder Cup only a month away, Lawrie showed that being one of Europe's seven rookies might not matter that much. Since winning the four-hole playoff at Carnoustie, he believes he can beat anybody, anywhere.

And this week, he has a view from the top.

He set a major championship record at Carnoustie by coming from 10 strokes behind in the final round to win. That won't be the case at Firestone.

"It's a new thing for me," he said of being the 36-hole leader. "A lot of great players are playing great week in and week out. I don't see why I can't beat them on a regular basis."

Franco is also full of confidence, and for good reason.

He grew up in poverty in Paraguay and has become one of the biggest success stories the PGA Tour has had in years. Woods, Duval and Stewart are the only other players to win at least twice on tour this year.

"This is unbelieveable year," Franco said, speaking in English instead of through a translator. "First time, twice winner ... now I say incredible. Every week, more better. No more chance for winning major, but I like this week -- $1 million prize for the winner."

AP