Augusta, Georgia - Chad Campbell was joined by fellow American Kenny Perry at the top of the leaderboard at the halfway point in the Masters on Friday, on a drama-filled day at Augusta. Campbell, who led by one shot after round one, fired a 3-under-par 69 to set the pace on 9-under-par, while Perry joined him late on with a fine bogey-free 67.

The pair were one shot clear of Argentine Angel Cabrera, who fired a second successive 68, while former Open champion Todd Hamilton was two shots further back.

American Anthony Kim recorded a Masters first when he had 11 birdies in his 65 - the round of the day - to be 4-under-par, while Spaniard Sergio Garcia joined him after a strong finish en route to a 67.

Two-time former champion Phil Mickelson birdied the 18th to be 3- under, while Open and US PGA champion Padraig Harrington (73) and world No 1 Tiger Woods (72) were tied on 2-under-par.

The benign weather and generous pin placements of day one were replaced by a swirling wind and tough tests, but Campbell could and should have been well clear after four birdies in the first 10 holes took him to 11-under.

Bogeys at 11, 12 and 17 dropped him back, but he holed a long downhill putt at the last to finish on 9-under, level with Perry, who had only made the cut three times at the Masters before this week, but who produced a bogey-free round of 67.

Former US Open champion Cabrera birdied the last for a second consecutive 68 to be second on 8-under.

Harrington endured a difficult moment on the 15th green when he was penalised a shot after the wind blew his ball when he had already addressed his birdie putt.

But the Irishman was typically stoical, saying: "It wasn't so hard to take - I was just happy to hole the putt (for par) after that.

"I can't afford to (make mistakes) over the next two rounds if I want to win."

Four-time Masters winner Woods endured another frustrating day on the greens as he struggled to a level-par 72, but said seven shots was not an insurmountable deficit with two rounds still to play.

"I have got to play a little bit better than I have, make a few more putts and clean up my round," the world No 1 said.

"I made a few more putts today but still didn't make enough. We'll see what happens and we'll see what the weather conditions present."

Mickelson was staring a missed cut in the face when he stood on the 12th tee on 2-over-par. But the American then went birdie, eagle, par, birdie and a nice birdie at the last to end on 3-under, six off the pace.

The 1985 champion, Sandy Lyle, picked up five birdies in a row from the 13th to finish on 2-under-par, tied as the leading Briton alongside Lee Westwood and Graeme McDowell.

Several big names missed the cut, among them Ernie Els, Adam Scott, Jose Maria Olazabal, Greg Norman, Fred Couples and Bernhard Langer.

Former champion Gary Player, at 73 playing in his final Masters, received a standing ovation when he arrived at the 18th hole.

"It's been a great joy," the South African said. "I look forward to coming back here to watch and these young guys now must pass the baton on." (dpa)