AUGUSTA, GEORGIA // As the Masters turned blustery, Kenny Perry surged into a share of the lead with Chad Campbell yesterday while Tiger Woods kept plodding along, hoping to make his move today. Anthony Kim was too impatient to wait that long. The 23-year-old American set an Augusta National record with 11 birdies on the way to a 7-under-par 65. "I haven't been making 11 birdies in two days," Kim said. "To make 11 in one day is pretty special, and to do it at Augusta is incredible."
It also was a day for nostalgia. Three-time winner Gary Player and 1979 champion Fuzzy Zoeller played their last competitive rounds at Augusta. The 73-year-old Player dropped to one knee and brought together his hands in prayer as he arrived at the 18th green one last time in his record 52nd Masters. He closed his brilliant career with five straight bogeys, including a three-putt at the 18th, and took an 83. Not that it mattered. "I had a standing ovation on all 36 holes," Player said. "How do you let people know how much you appreciate the love?" Zoeller, 57, blew a kiss to the patrons before jogging up the hill behind the green to sign one last Masters scorecard, struggling to hold back the tears.
Carrying on for the old-timers was Perry, who closed out his 67 with a tap-in birdie. Now, he can make a run at becoming the oldest major champion in golf history. The American will be 48 years, 8 months, when the green jacket is handed out on Sunday, four months older than Julius Boros when he won the 1968 U.S. PGA Championship. "I really believe I can win this tournament," Perry said. First-round leader Campbell shot 70, tying him with Perry at 9-under 135. Woods could only manage a 72 and will go to the final two rounds seven shots off the lead. The soft-spoken Campbell bounced back from a tough back side to make a 25-foot birdie putt at No. 18, putting himself in a familiar position. Three years ago, he entered the weekend with the lead but fell back during a rain-plagued third round that extended over two days. He finished in a tie for third, three strokes behind winner Phil Mickelson. "It's nice that I have been in this position before," Campbell said. "There's a long ways to go, but it's definitely nice to not be on foreign ground."
C Campbell US 65 70 135 Perry US 68 67 135 Cabrera Arg 68 68 136 Hamilton US 68 70 138 T Clark SA 68 71 139 Furyk US 66 74 140 Garcia Spa 73 67 140 Katayama Jpn 67 73 140 A Kim US 75 65 140 Sabbatini SA 73 67 140 * AP
