Tiger Wood: He's Baaaack! [J. Mark English]

Associated Press, ESPN --

HOYLAKE, England -- Tiger Woods stood in the middle of the 14th fairway with a dazed look, so far away from the green he couldn't tell where his ball landed.

"It went in?" Woods asked caddie Steve Williams.

Yes, it did.

With another magical shot in a career already filled with them, Woods seized control of the British Open with a 7-under-par 65 Friday and cast aside the notion his poor performance in the U.S. Open was anything more than a rare off week for the world's greatest golfer.

Woods already had grabbed the lead when he stood over a 4-iron at No. 14, some 200 yards from the flag. He ripped a low shot that caught the edge of the green and hopped three more times before striking the stick, dropping straight in for eagle.

Walking toward the green, Woods heard the gallery roar but didn't know where his ball ended up. When Williams told him it was in the cup, the golfer broke into a wide grin, gave his caddie a high-five and shrugged his shoulders, almost as if he was apologizing. Williams jokingly attempted to put the bag on Woods' shoulder as the two made a triumphant walk up the fairway.

"It's a bonus," Woods said. "Trust me, I'm not trying to put the ball in the hole. I'm just trying to put it on the green and get out of there with a 4."