Charles Howell III prepared for the Tour Championship by playing a practice round with Tiger Woods.
He figured he was playing with a guy who would be in contention all week.
"This is right up his alley," Howell said. "I can speak to his mood. He was taking it very seriously. He's ready for this week."
Howell could have been speaking for himself.
Going into the weekend at Champions Golf Club, the 24-year-old Howell had two rounds of 4-under 67 that gave him a one-stroke lead over Fred Funk.
It's a position Howell knows well.
A year ago at East Lake, he had a one-stroke lead at the Tour Championship and shot all four rounds in the 60s only to be passed by Vijay Singh to finish second by two shots.
Howell doesn't have to look terribly far to find Woods or Singh, the top two candidates for PGA Tour's player of the year. But there are several players in between.
Woods couldn't make the few good birdie chances he had and finished with another 70 that left him six strokes behind at 140.
Singh, who needs only to finish in a three-way tie for third to clinch the money title, posted a 3-under 68 and was tied for 16th at 1-under 141.
"There was a lot of buildup this week to Tiger and Vijay and who would be player of the year," Howell said. "There wasn't a lot of attention on myself coming into here, just as there wasn't a lot on Fred Funk.
"I guess you come in here with not much attention and not much expectations from the media, and then you play well. Who knows?"
Retief Goosen, coming off a victory last week at Innisbrook, was among those tied for the lead late in the round until he had to scramble for a bogey on the 17th hole. He shot 67 and was another stroke back at 136.
Woods, needing a victory for any chance to win the money title, didn't make as many mistakes as he did it the first round. Then again, he didn't make any putts.
"Obviously, tomorrow is going to be a very important day to see if I can put myself in position come Sunday," Woods said.
Still, the tight PGA Tour player of the year race could be a tossup if neither Singh nor Woods wins. Perhaps everyone should have seen this coming from Howell.
While this is only his second Tour Championship for the top 30 on the money list, he has posted all six rounds in the 60s.
"Maybe it's because it's the end of the year and I know that we have a break coming up," Howell said. "It's kind of a nothing-to-lose mentality."
Davis Love shot 67 on Friday. He also was at 140 and needs a victory for player of the year consideration.
Masters champion Mike Weir, the other top candidate, all but took himself out of contention by hitting into the water on the par-3 12th and making double bogey. He shot 73 and was 10 strokes behind.
Just about everyone else -- Woods included -- is still in it. Fourteen of the 31 players were within six shots of the lead.
"A lot of guys have a chance to win," Woods said. "I'm right up there with those guys."
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