As the Masters turned blustery, Kenny Perry surged into a share of the lead with Chad Campbell on Friday while Tiger Woods kept plodding along, hoping to make his move on the weekend. Perry tapped in for birdie at the final hole for a 5-under-par 67 in much tougher conditions, setting himself up to 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 US PGA Championship. Campbell shot 70, tying him with Perry at 9-under 135. Woods could manage only a 72 and will go to the final two rounds seven shots off the lead. “I really believe I can win this tournament,” Perry said. Campbell might have something to say about that. He 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. No one made a bigger move than Anthony Kim, the emotional leader of last year's winning US Ryder Cup team that also included Campbell and Perry. The 23-year-old American, a polar opposite of Perry (in age) and the soft-spoken Campbell (in temperament), shot a brilliant 65 despite a stiffer breeze, firmer greens and tougher pin positions than he faced on Thursday while struggling to a 75. Kim, playing in this tournament for the first time, probably wondered if he'd make the cut after the opening-round debacle. Now, having set a Masters record for the most birdies in one round (11), he's solidly in contention for a green jacket with a 140, just five strokes off the lead. Kim eclipsed the 10 birdies posted by Zimbabwe's Nick Price en route to a 63 in the third round in 1986. “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 Augusta is incredible. If I can keep my putter hot, I like my chances here.” After opening with a 70 that could have been much better if not for a balky putter, Woods lost ground to the leaders on Friday. An 8-footer to save par at No. 18 caught the lip and popped out, leaving the world's No. 1 player with plenty of ground to make up over the final two rounds. While players such as Kim, Perry and Steve Stricker (69) did just fine, Augusta National did show its teeth a bit after a hosting a birdiefest on Thursday, when 19 players shot in the 60s and 38 broke par, both records for an opening day at the Masters. The wind had picked up considerably, swirling through Amen Corner and firming up the greens. Larry Mize went from 67 to 76. Tom Watson soared from 74 to 83 – his worst score ever at Augusta. New Zealand amateur Danny Lee played the first five holes after the turn at 10 over, including a quintuple-bogey 9 at the 10th. “Obviously today is a lot more difficult,” said Todd Hamilton, the 2004 British Open champion who stayed in contention with a 70.
