The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Tiger Woods says his game is starting to come around, and not many doubted him Friday in the Wachovia Championship.

Tiger Woods wait to make his final putt Friday during the second round of the Wachovia Championship. (AP photo)

Woods made every putt inside 20 feet and one from nearly 50 feet. It led to his best round since February, a 6-under 66 at sun-baked Quail Hollow that gave him a two-shot lead going into the weekend.

"More than anything, I gave myself some looks at the putts and I made them - just about every one of them," Woods said. "It's a nice combination."

Woods was at 9-under 135, two shots ahead of Kirk Triplett (73), Notah Begay (70) and Arron Oberholser (68).

Vijay Singh, who is challenging Woods for No. 1 in the world, missed a half-dozen putts inside 18 feet on his back nine and had to settle for a 70, leaving him in the group only three shots behind and setting up the prospects for a major showdown Sunday.

Singh is hitting the ball so well that having Woods three shots ahead of him and Masters champion Phil Mickelson (70) two shots behind him is of little concern.

"We've got the weekend ahead of us," Singh said. "I'm playing well. I think I'm going to be there Sunday."

There's a long list of players ready to join him. Stuart Appleby (72), Brett Quigley (72) and Joey Sindelar (69) joined Singh at 6-under 138.

LPGA TOUR: Kim Williams has been around long enough to know that a sparkling second round in a tournament guarantees little. "I am just happy I made the cut," she said.

Williams sparkled more than anyone has in the two-year history of the Michelob Ultra Open at Kingsmill Golf Club in Williamsburg, Va., shooting an event record 8-under-par 63 and taking a four-shot lead at 11-under 131.

Williams posted one of the few bogey-free rounds. She made six birdies and an eagle on the 6,270-yard layout. It was the best round of her 16-year career. She's still seeking her first victory.

"Can you tell me who was leading halfway through the Super Bowl? No. Can you tell me who was leading halfway through the Boston Marathon? No," she said. "You know who won. ... I have led the U.S. Open after the first day a couple of times. All it gets you is making the cut."

Williams has a long way to go before worrying about winning. The tournament's $2.2 million purse is the third-largest on the women's tour, and has attracted as start-studded a crowd as the LPGA can offer.

Among those seemingly poised the make a move is Annika Sorenstam, the top female player in the world. She's at 2-under 140.

Teenage sensation Michelle Wie also declared herself in contention after a bogey-free 67 that included four birdies and a still-balky putter. She was at 3-under 139, one shot ahead of Sorenstam.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Ray Floyd shot a 5-under-par 67 and was tied for the lead with Sam Torrance after the first round of the FedEx Kinko's Classic in Austin, Texas.

Tom Watson, last year's runner-up, missed a 14-foot birdie putt at No. 18 and slipped into a tie for third place with Allen Doyle, Mark McNulty and Vicente Fernandez at 4-under 68. Floyd, 61, is seeking his first victory since 2000. He recorded two top-10 finishes last year after coming back from prostate surgery in December 2002.

BABY COMES FIRST: Swede Fredrik Jacobson, 29, withdrew from the Wachovia Championship when his wife went into labor with their first child. Jacobson opened with a 66 and was two shots out of the lead. Jacobson is playing the PGA Tour and has a home in Jupiter, Fla.

RYDER CUP: Jesper Parnevik ruled himself out of playing for Europe, saying he was not willing to play at least 11 events on the European Tour as a requirement to make the team.

BRITISH MASTERS: Eduardo Romero was penalized two strokes at the end of his round, giving Patrik Sjoland a one-shot lead after 36 holes. Sjoland shot a 7-under 65 and was at 10-under 134 after two bogey-free rounds, with Romero one behind after being dropped to a 68.

U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN: Two-time champion Betsy King and Dottie Pepper were given special exemptions. King, a Hall of Famer with six major titles, received her second straight exemption for the tournament. She will be making her 29th consecutive appearance in the U.S. Women's Open, which is July 1-4 at South Hadley, Mass.

Pepper, who's had various injuries the past few years, withdrew from the last two championships. She was in the middle of the pack last year at Pumpkin Ridge when her left shoulder began hurting.

The USGA accepted a record 1,097 entries for the Women's Open, beating the previous mark of 980 in 2001.

Among those who entered was Isabelle Lendl, the 12-year-old daughter of former U.S. Open tennis champion Ivan Lendl. The youngest entry was 11-year-old Tanya Wadhwa of India, who now lives in Bradenton, Fla.

Local qualifying at 16 courses begins May 11. The final stage of qualifying will be June 14-20 at nine locations.