Tiger Woods making a move at Bay Hill

Could the long road back for Tiger Woods finally be nearing an end? He’s certainly shown some signs lately that his game is coming back, if not to the level of 2002, at least to a point where he has to be considered a contender whenever he tees it up.

Woods birdied four consecutive holes on the front nine of the second round at Bay Hill on Friday to move within two shots of leaders Jason Dufner and Grahame McDowell.

[Update, 3:47 p.m.: Charlie Wi later finished with a 68 to move into a share of the lead with Woods.]

They had completed their second rounds and stood at nine under par. Woods was at seven under after nine holes after getting birdies on Nos. 4 through 7, and he was looking more like the player who has won this tournament six times than the guy who hasn’t won a PGA Tour event since 2009.

Woods shot a 62 in the final round of the Honda Classic to finish tied for second. At the WGC Cadillac Championship two weeks ago, he shot 67-68 in the second two rounds to get to nine under before having to withdraw because of a strained Achilles.

At the moment, that doesn’t seem to be affecting his play.

And the way he is striking the ball, and the simple fact that putts are beginning to find the hole, may establish Woods as a viable contender for the first real high-profile tournament of the year, the Masters in two weeks. Could another green jacket be in the wind?

ALSO:

Is Chipper Jones a Hall of Famer?

Should the Clippers fire Vinny Del Negro?

Video: Timberwolves and their Britney Spears karaoke

Tiger Woods making a move at Bay Hill