Woods derailed by closing bogeys, shoots 70

• By Will Gray
• Mar 22, 2013 6:12 PM ET

ORLANDO, Fla. – For Tiger Woods, Friday's round was about what might have been.

A 2-under 70 has the defending champion in contention heading into the weekend at Bay Hill, just four shots behind co-leaders Justin Rose and Bill Haas, but missed putts and a string of closing bogeys derailed what was an otherwise sterling round.

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After an opening birdie, Woods appeared in position for another at the par-3 second hole, only to miss a birdie putt from inside three feet. He missed a putt of similar length for birdie at the par-5 12th, while shots on both the third and 16th holes found the water.

"I certainly made my fair share of mistakes over the last few holes," said Woods, who sits at 5-under 139 after two rounds. "I have to clean that up."

A seven-time winner of this event, Woods got to within a shot of the lead after a birdie on the 13th hole took him to 8 under. After his approach out of the bunker found the water at the par-5 16th, though – a hole he eagled during Thursday's first round – Woods suffered his first bogey of the day. That was followed by bogeys at both 17 and 18, quickly changing the tone of the afternoon and dropping him into a tie for seventh after two rounds.

"I'm four back. At one point I was one back and right there," explained Woods, who carded three birdies and an eagle against three bogeys Friday. "The good news is we have 36 holes to go."