Australian Open 2011: Tiger Woods Leads, Feels Confident

Tiger Woods is back on top, leading the Australian Open after two rounds at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney.

Yes, it’s still early, but considering it’s been nearly a year since he’s led a tournament -- the last time was after three rounds at the Chevron World Classic last December -- it’s hard not to do a double take at the familiar name atop the leaderboard.

After shooting 5-under in the second round, Woods spoke to reporters about how comfortable he was with his new swing -- especially his approach shot on the par-5, 550-yard eighth hole. From Golf.com:

“It felt goooood,” he said with a smile rarely seen in two tumultuous years of personal crises, injuries and swing rebuilds.
“I had 247 [yards to the] front, wind howling in my face. It was ever so slightly off the left and a slightly hanging lie,” Woods said.“I had to start it [at] the [left] bunker and just hammer it -- and I did. It slid about three yards. It was the best shot I’ve hit so far [with my new swing in competition].”

[...] “I didn’t really miss a shot,” he said. “I hit so many lips, it could easily have been eight or nine under. It feels good to be hitting it properly. I’m able to move the ball both ways similar to what I used to do a long time ago.”

Can Woods stay in the groove and hold onto the lead? He sounded confident about his ability to re-discover his killer instinct. From the Associated Press:

“I think experience comes with managing myself and my game,” Woods said. “I’ve been there a few times and I understand how to do it. All the things that can happen, I’ve experienced a lot of it.”

[...] “It comes back,” Woods said of knowing how to win. “When Jack [Nicklaus] won in ‘86 at the Masters, it came back. You know what it feels like. You know what to do.”

The Australian Open is hardly the Masters, but the analogy is apt: Nicklaus’ win ended a two-year drought. The third round is already underway in Sydney, but Woods will not tee off until 8:40 p.m. EST (12:40 p.m. local). The Golf Channel will televise the third round, starting at 8 p.m. EST.

The full 2011 Australian Open leaderboard is at PGATour.org.au. For more golf coverage, visit Waggle Room and SB Nation’s golf hub.