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Tiger Woods followed up a good first round with an even better second round to lead the Australian Open by one shot with 36 holes left to play. Tiger last led a golf tournament mid-round at this year’s Masters, but this is the first time this year he’s had a lead at the end of a round. Peter O’Malley, a 46-year-old Australian who recently retired after 23 years on the European Tour, is alone in second place.

“I played well today,” said Tiger after his second-round 5-under 67. “I could have been a little lower on my first nine holes. I felt like I really didn’t miss a shot. Even though I shot five under, it felt like it could easily have been eight or nine deep. I’m just being patient. It feels good to actually be playing properly instead of slashing the ball all over the place.”

Robert Allenby, who played in the same group as Tiger for the first 36 holes, thinks this might be the return the golf world has been waiting for. “Tiger’s on his way back, that’s for sure,” said Allenby. “I think where he is right now is good enough to win.”

Tiger last finished a round on top of the leaderboard after the third round of the 18-man Chevron World Challenge, which he eventually lost in a playoff. It’s been almost two years since Tiger’s led after a round at a full-field event, going back to his last win anywhere, the 2009 Australian Masters.

Jason Day is two shots back in third, while Bubba Watson is alone in fourth, three shots behind Tiger. Pre-tournament favorite Adam Scott is tied for 10th, five shots back.