England's Ian Poulter, the 2010 Match Play winner, set up a clash with 2001 champion Steve Stricker.
Four shots off the lead are a trio of Americans -- Ryan Palmer, Steve Stricker and Cameron Tringale.
In the morning wave of play on Friday, veteran Steve Stricker had the best round, a two-under 68.
But the 37-year-old then bogeyed three times, while Steve Stricker's chances went when he finished with back-to-back bogeys.
Also capable of winning are the savvy old-timers Steve Stricker and Jim Furyk.
Players might be lining up to force Steve Stricker into full retirement for the putting tip he gave Woods at Doral.
He sank five birdies on his inward nine holes for a five-under effort to lead US compatriot Steve Stricker by two.
Elsewhere in the foursomes, Tiger Woods and partner Steve Stricker beat Australian Geoff Ogilvy and Japan's Ryo Ishikawa six and four.
American world number six Steve Stricker was on his own at six under after a 68 with countryman Heath Slocum five under.
Defending champion Steve Stricker lounged on a sofa in the dining room watching the NFL playoffs with Dustin Johnson and Brandt Snedeker.
Six players, including defending champion Steve Stricker, had not even teed off.
Steve Stricker missed out on becoming only the fifth player to win a PGA Tour tournament four successive times, finishing tied for fifth.
One stroke behind Woods and Briton Rose is a quartet of Americans -- Bo van Pelt, Steve Stricker, Matt Kuchar and Scott Piercy.
American Phil Mickelson, who has chosen to rest this week, leads the standings ahead of Barclays Classic champion Steve Stricker, with Woods in third.
He has slid from second in the world ranking to third behind Steve Stricker after just one top-10 finish in seven starts this season.
Steve Stricker, plodded his way around Augusta more methodically to end up in the same place as Johnson after two rounds is, stands one- under-par.
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Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher are tied with Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker, while Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer lead Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson.
America's Jim Furyk, Ricky Fowler and Steve Stricker are currently tied for ninth at two-under par alongside England's Lee Westwood and two-time champion, Germany's Bernhard Langer.
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Other players including Martin Kaymer, Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker had chances to grab the No. 1 ranking this year, but none of them could close the deal.
Woods also benefitted from a lesson with fellow golfer Steve Stricker, on the practice green at the Doral Resort and Spa last month before the WGC Cadillac Championship.
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Taking his lead from the likes of Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk and David Toms, Snedeker honed his game to ensure distance wasn't preventing him challenging for big titles.
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"It's almost kind of odd to feel you can fire it right up there because you've never been able to do that, " said veteran Steve Stricker, who shot 71 on Thursday.
Phil Mickelson recovered from a double-bogey six at the third hole to also post a 69, leaving him one shot adrift of McDowell and tied for third with compatriot Steve Stricker (69).
Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker, who won four points out of four in the Presidents Cup last year, were together for the second day running, playing with 21-year-old Rickie Fowler and Jim Furyk.
Meanwhile, US captain Corey Pavin put world number one Tiger Woods alongside Hunter Mahan while Steve Stricker, who won all four matches alongside Woods in the Presidents Cup a year ago, joined Zach Johnson.
He's working on it but missed three such putts here Friday and triple-bogeyed his last hole to fall from among the leaders to well behind Woods, in the solo lead, Graeme McDowell, Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker.
His putting stroke is back, thanks to a tip from Steve Stricker at Doral, his irons are consistent and the swing changes he made in switching from instructors Hank Haney to Sean Foley appear to be complete.
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Experienced American players dominate the upper reaches of the leaderboard with Jim Furyk in fourth place on eight-under after a fine 68 with Steve Stricker a shot further back and firmly in contention also after a 68.
Former world No. 1 Luke Donald was tied for seventh on 66, while fellow 2012 Ryder Cup players Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood, Dustin Johnson and Steve Stricker were on 68 in a group also including British Open champion Ernie Els, runner-up Adam Scott and Louis Oosthuizen -- who was second at the Deutsche Bank event.
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