Birdie-birdie finish gets Woods to the weekend as Harman breaks course record at Honda Classic

Something must have clicked for Tiger Woods during yesterday’s 40-minute, post-round session on the practice green with swing coach Sean Foley. Now, if Woods -- who needed 10 fewer putts Friday than he did in his first round -- could get his shot-making and greens game to work in concert, he might have a chance to contend this weekend at the Honda Classic.

The golfer who could not get shots to drop on Thursday needed just 24 putts in Friday’s second round to post a 2-under 68 and settle in at 1-under for the week -- three strokes above the projected cut line. The problems on Friday for Woods, who was pleased with the way he hit the ball yesterday (71 percent driving accuracy), were his tee shots, and not, for once, the way he rolled the ball.

Tiger Woods' ball-striking and putting were out of synch on Friday at the Honda Classic (Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

The numbers told the story of Woods’ up-and-down second round:

• 24 putts
• 5 birdies
• 1 bogey
• 1 double-bogey (at the par-3 fifth)
• 57% driving accuracy

"I didn’t swing the club worth a darn all day," Woods told reporters after his round. "But I figured something out the last four holes after my tee shot on No. 6. I putted much better and got the putts to the hole and that was one of the goals."

A birdie-birdie finish on the eighth and ninth holes (he started out on No. 10) helped Woods salvage a lackluster round and ensure a Saturday tee time -- an outcome that was in jeopardy after a water ball on the par-3 fifth resulted in a double-bogey.

"It was a grind," Woods said. "I got it going, lost it, got it going, lost it, and got it going. I didn’t have it, but I scored and that’s something I can take out of it."

While all eyes were on Woods, the story of the day was unheralded University of Georgia grad Brian Harman, who set a new course record by firing a 9-under 61. Surrounded by stars like reigning U.S. Open champ Rory McIlroy and 2011 PGA titleholder Keegan Bradley, the 25-year-old who turned professional in 2009 required only 26 putts to card eight birdies and an eagle (on the par-5 third) on his way to smashing the record that Davis Love III tied Thursday and clubhouse leader Tom Gillis matched on Friday.

As for Gillis, the 43-year-old's 12 one-putts helped him post a 64 and get to 8-under -- good enough for a two-shot edge over Love, Harman, and two others, with half the field still on the course. The 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup captain had an afternoon tee time, as did McIlroy and Bradley. McIlroy, who would take over the top spot in the world golf rankings with a win this week, was 1-under through seven and 5-under for the week. Playing with McIlroy, Bradley was 1-over for the day and 2-under for the tourney.