Tiger on tail of U.S. Open leader

Stuart Appleby birdied the 18th hole to shoot 70 and grab the U.S. Open lead at Torrey Pines on Friday.

But someone is gaining on him. Quickly.

Tiger Woods shot 30 on the front nine at Torrey Pines -- his final nine holes of the day -- to card a 68 and move to within a shot of the lead through 36 holes.

Woods birdied the first, second, fourth, fifth and ninth holes to shoot 30 on the par-35 front nine. Only three players in U.S. Open history have shot 29 for nine holes.

Woods is playing competitively for the first time since The Masters. He had surgery on his left knee two days after that event.

Woods, who three-putted his first hole (the 10th) and made two bogeys in his first three holes, electrified the gallery with an eagle on the par-5 13th hole to get back to 1-over par (his first U.S. Open eagle since 2004 at Shinnecock Hills).

(courtesy of espn.com)