GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- Tiger Woods shot a season-low 63 Friday in the second round of the Buick Open and soared up the leaderboard with his best round in relation to par in four years.

Poor putting led to an awful start the previous day in his first tournament since missing the cut at the British Open.

";I took advantage of driving on a string again," he said. ";I hit my irons a little better and I made some putts."

In relation to par, it was his best round since he had an 11-under 61 at the 2005 Buick Open. Woods began that tournament with a 71 just as he did Thursday. His last 63 helped him repeat at the 2007 PGA Championship.

Woods was 6 under through five holes for the best five-hole start of his career.

Michael Letzig (65) had the clubhouse lead at 12 under.

";That probably won't be the lead at the end of the day," Wood predicted.

Woods followed up what he called probably the worst putting day of his career with a good one, helping him go into the weekend at 10-under 134.

He teed off early Friday morning, hitting his first drive 342 yards straight into the blinding sun. He went on to a birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie tear to remove the remote chance he would miss the cut in consecutive events for the first time as a pro.

Woods had to break 70 on Friday to avoid putting himself in danger of missing the cut, but he said that possibility didn't enter his mind.

";I just wanted to get off to a quick start and take advantage of the holes you're supposed to take advantage of," said Woods, who began the second round on the easier back nine at Warwick Hills. ";I birdied a few more than I thought I would."

John Daly almost hit rock bottom with an 88, one shot off his career-high 89 that he had last year at the British Open, and ended the tournament 20-over 160.

Women's British Open

LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England (AP) -- Catriona Matthew picked up five strokes to par in a brilliant three-hole stretch in the Women's British Open.

Playing 10 weeks after having her second child, the Scot followed an eagle on the par-5 11th with a hole-in-one on the 12th and added a birdie on the par-4 13th.

She finished with a 5-under 67 for a share of the second-round lead with Giulia Sergas at 3-under 141. Sergas also shot a 67.

The 39-year-old Matthew is playing her second tournament since giving birth to daughter Sophie in May. She hit a rescue club from 218 yards to 6 feet to set up the eagle on No. 11, then holed an 8-iron shot from 152 yards on the 12th.

After a par on 14, Matthew added birdies on 15, 16 and 18 and bogeyed 17 for a course-record 7-under 30 on the back nine. She played in much calmer conditions than she faced Thursday in an opening 74 at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.

U.S. Senior Open

CARMEL, Ind. (AP) -- Tennessee amateur Tim Jackson left Greg Norman and Joey Sindelar behind in the U.S. Senior Open.

The 50-year-old real estate developer shot a 5-under 67 at Crooked Stick to take the lead at 11-under 133 -- matching the lowest 36-hole total in event history. He opened with a 66 on Thursday, the best score ever by an amateur in the tournament.

Sindelar was a stroke behind Jackson. Sindelar started on the back nine and followed his course-record 66 with a 68. Fred Funk (67) was third at 9 under.

Norman stumbled early in the round, but recovered nicely, ending the round with two straight birdies. He was 8 under after a 70.

Moravia Silesia Open

CELADNA, Czech Republic (AP) -- England's Graeme Storm shot his second straight 4-under 68 for a share of the second-round lead in the Moravia Silesia Open.

England's Steve Webster matched Storm at 8-under 136.