Augusta, Ga. ? Tiger Woods still has his game. Now he finds out if his name high on the leaderboard at a major is still as intimidating.

In a Masters that gets more compelling by the day, two faces of England’s golf revival — Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter — handled a tougher Augusta National on Friday to share the lead as both chase their first major championship.

Poulter, who once boasted that it would be just him and Woods when he reached his potential, made his only bogey on the 18th hole for a second straight 68. Westwood had everything from an eagle to a double bogey in his wild round of 69.

They were at 8-under 136, the first time either of them has been in the lead in a major.

Two shots behind was Woods, a position that has surprised just about everybody except him.

“I usually put myself in contention most of the time here,” Woods said after a 2-under 70. “And this year, I’m right there.”

If that’s not enough, Phil Mickelson is along for the ride.

Mickelson needed a birdie on the 18th hole to be paired with Woods, just as they were in the final round last year. His 65-foot putt banged off the back of the cup before spinning away, giving Lefty a 71.

Woods and Mickelson were at 138, along with K.J. Choi, Ricky Barnes and Anthony Kim, the sassy young American coming off a victory last week in the Houston Open.

Woods has captured so much attention at this Masters because of his swift and spectacular downfall from a sex scandal that kept him out of golf the last five months. He has been humbled by confessions of cheating on his wife, and one of the lingering questions was whether his personal chaos would make him seem less invincible on the golf course.

He has won the Masters all three times when going into the weekend in a tie for third or better.

Y.E. Yang, who rallied to beat Woods at the PGA Championship eight months ago, had a 72 and was at 5-under 139.

“There’s a great buzz on the golf course,” said Poulter, who played the first two days in front of Woods. “I was happy to tee off when I did. The crowds are 10-deep. That’s always good. I think the tournament is a good one.”

Westwood pulled himself out of a deep slump to regain his status as the best in Europe, and he has been closing in on an elusive major. He came within one putt of getting into a playoff in the U.S. Open in 2008 and the British Open last year.

It was a wild ride, for sure.

Westwood moved quickly to the top of the leaderboard with a 6-iron into 18 inches for eagle on the second hole, and he had two tries at an eagle at the par 5s on the back nine. But there also was a hook into the trees on the 14th that led to double bogey, and another tee shot into the pines on the 18th that kept him from the outright lead.

Poulter began making his move on the par-3 12th with a shot over the bunker to about eight feet for birdie. There was muted applause, partly because it’s difficult for the fans to see the green, and partly because most of them weren’t watching.

“Tiger was on the 11th green,” Poulter said with a grin.

Seven players — five of them among the top 15 in the world — were separated by two shots going into the weekend at a course that is getting faster by the day under warm sunshine and scary, swirling wind.

Fred Couples, coming off his Masters-best 66 in the opening round, remained atop the leaderboard for much of his morning round until closing with three straight bogeys for a 75. Tom Watson took two shots to get out of the bunker on the 18th hole for one last bogey in his round of 74. They were part of the group at 3-under 141, five shots behind.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Ex-Seton Hall coach sues

South Orange, N.J. — Former Seton Hall basketball coach Bobby Gonzalez has sued the university over his firing last month.

Attorney Gerald Krovatin filed the lawsuit Friday in federal court in Newark. It alleges Gonzalez is owed two years base salary under the terms of his contract.

The fiery Gonzalez was let go March 17, hours after the Pirates lost in the NIT’s opening round.

Favors leaving Ga. Tech

Atlanta — Derrick Favors is leaving Georgia Tech after only one season to enter the NBA Draft. The 6-foot-10 freshman forward is projected by most services as a top-five pick. Even when he signed with the Yellow Jackets, most fans and media figured he’d be one and done. Favors becomes the team’s second key player to leave school early, following junior forward Gani Lawal. The duo helped Georgia Tech reach the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game and second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Duke-Butler possible

Indianapolis — How about a rematch of the NCAA men’s championship game next season? Butler coach Brad Stevens said Friday there has been discussion about a game with Duke in what would be a rematch of Monday’s nail-biter title game won by the Blue Devils. The schools are still talking about dates to see if they can work it out.

AUTO RACING

Busch wins at Phoenix

Avondale, Ariz. — Kyle Busch recovered from a wild sequence in which he lost the lead on a restart and fell 20 seconds behind the leaders after a drive-through penalty to win the NASCAR Nationwide Series race Friday night at Phoenix International Raceway. Busch was back to 10th before the final restart with eight laps left, then charged through the field to win by 1.55 seconds over Kevin Harvick.

Allmendinger earns pole

Avondale, Ariz. — A.J. Allmendinger has earned his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole. Allmendinger ran a lap at 134.675 mph Friday in the Richard Petty-owned No. 43 Ford at Phoenix International Speedway. He will start on the front row today with Scott Speed.

NFL

Decision expected Monday

Milledgeville, Ga. — A district attorney in Georgia plans to announce Monday whether he will file charges in a case of sexual assault accusations against Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

District Attorney Fred Bright said in a statement Friday he has reviewed all the investigation reports and will hold a news conference to announce his decision.

Milledgeville police Chief Woodrow Blue said Wednesday his department and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation had wrapped up their investigation into a 20-year-old college student’s claim that the two-time Super Bowl champion sexually assaulted her early March 5 at a club in Milledgeville.

TENNIS

Defending champ falls

Houston — Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Chela beat injury-slowed defending champion Lleyton Hewitt of Australia, 6-4, 6-3, on Friday in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Alabama safety ineligible

Tuscaloosa, Ala. — Alabama safety Robby Green has been ruled ineligible for the 2010 season by the NCAA. Green was a leading candidate for a starting spot.