PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Golf is starting to feel easy again for Rory McIlroy, who bounced back from a sloppy start Friday in the Honda Classic for a 4-under 66 that gave him his first 36-hole lead on the PGA Tour in 18 months. Tiger Woods is making it look hard. McIlroy recovered from two early bogeys by running off six birdies in a 10-hole stretch. He looked solid from tee-to-green, hit putts with growing confidence and wound up with a one-shot lead over Brendon de Jonge. "I knew that with the way Im playing and the confidence in my ability, I would be able to get those shots back," McIlroy said. "I didnt panic. I didnt try to do anything different. Just tried to keep playing the way I was." He was at 11-under 129. Woods felt fortunate to still be playing. He was over the cut line after scrambling for a bogey on the 11th hole and wound up with a 69 to make the cut on the number. Woods hit only two greens over his last nine holes. His lone birdie on the back nine was a chip-in on the 13th after he missed the green with a wedge. "It was a grind, theres no doubt about it," Woods said. "I didnt hit it very good. Just one of those days where I fought out a number, which was good." Because 79 players made the cut, there will be another cut to top 70 and ties on Saturday. Woods missed the 54-hole cut the last time he played on the PGA Tour at Torrey Pines. David Hearn (70) of Brantford, Ont., is tied for 23rd at 3 under. Mike Weir of Brights Grove, Ont., did not make the cut after shooting a 72 and a 70. Calgarys Stephen Ames was also out after a 73 and a 75. And at least hes still playing the weekend. That wasnt the case for Phil Mickelson. Playing the Honda Classic for the first time in 12 years, he had a 71 to miss the cut. So did Henrik Stenson, the No. 3 player in the world, with rounds of 73-76. McIlroy knew the feeling a year ago, when he took a steep fall from No. 1 in the world while changing equipment and trying to live up to high expectations, leading to his snap decision to walk off the course after 26 holes last year at the Honda Classic. A growing gallery in warm sunshine at PGA National saw a familiar game -- the McIlroy who won the Honda Classic two years ago. Swinging freely and putting beautifully, McIlroy hit his stride on his back nine with four birdies in five holes, including the par-5 third when he smashed a drive some 35 yards past Adam Scott and had only a 6-iron into the green on the 539-yard hole. De Jonge, who has never won on the PGA Tour, played early in the afternoon when the wind picked up and put eight birdies on his card in a 64. He was tied for the lead when he missed the green with a wedge on No. 9 and made bogey. Even so, hell be in the last group Saturday with McIlroy. "I think I might have got a little bit of switch in the wind," de Jonge said. Russell Henley had a 68 and was three shots behind. Russell Knox of Scotland had the low round Friday at 63 and was four shots back along with Lee Westwood (65). But the focus is clearly on McIlroy, who each week looks to be getting better. "This year is obviously a lot different," McIlroy said. "Got off to a good start. Im confident. Im playing well. This is the second straight tournament Ive opened with a 63, so if I can keep building on these good starts, then hopefully I can start converting." After a 63 in Dubai, he said he was pressing too much in the final round and wound up in a tie for ninth. Friday was another step in the right direction, despite two errant tee shots on the 11th and 12th holes that led to bogeys. His round changed with a tee shot into 6 feet on the 16th hole for a birdie, and then a 12-foot birdie on the 18th to wrap up his front nine and earn back the two shots he had dropped. After a 45-foot birdie attempt on the second hole rimmed all the way around and out of the cup, Boy Wonder took off. He two-putted the par-5 third. He hit a wedge into 4 feet on the next hole. He rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt down the hill at the par-5 fifth. Then, after a tough par save on the sixth, he sank another 30-foot birdie putt that McIlroy made look routine. The gallery is kept 100 yards from the green, so the only applause came from a few marshals. It sounded like a tap-in for par. McIlroy reacted that way, too. "Watching Rory play is amazing when hes swinging like this," Scott said after his own great recovery. The Masters champ put shots in the water on the 16th and 17th holes, both times making double bogey, and it looked as though his return to golf after a six-week break would be a short one. But the Australian ran off four birdies on the front nine for a 70. It will take a lot more to catch McIlroy, who has taken only 49 putts through two rounds. 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They actually finished with a better record in ‘07 than they did in ‘06 but only marginally, going from 61 victories to 66.ANAHEIM – It will be their longest and most arduous road trip of the season. Five games in 10 days for the Toronto Maple Leafs with stops in some of the NHLs most unforgiving terrain. Theres the impending swing through the treacherous California triangle followed by clashes with playoff chasers in Washington and Detroit. Just a hair up on the Lightning for third spot in the Atlantic division, points will be harder to come by in the days ahead for a Toronto squad thats lost just three times in regulation in the past 19 games. “Its a good measuring stick for us,” said Joffrey Lupul, securing his teams 13th win since Jan. 12 with the overtime winner against Philadelphia over the weekend. Two times a Duck himself, Lupul and the Leafs will start their grueling sprint through the California triangle with a Monday date in Anaheim. Almost unbeatable at home – they went 22 games before losing their first game in regulation at the Honda Center – only the Blues have been better this season than the league-best Ducks, who square off with Randy Carlyle, their former bench boss, for the first time since his dismissal in Dec. 2011. From SoCal to NorCal, the Leafs get right back at it a day later in San Jose. Just a smidge behind the Ducks, Blackhawks and Blues for tops in the West, the Sharks – like the Ducks – are dominant at home. Theyve lost just four times in regulation at the SAP Center and are amongst the top defensive teams in the league this season. Following that hearty challenge the Leafs will conclude their stay in Cali opposite a stingy Kings team thats won seven straight and gives up fewer goals than any other team. Itll be the first visit to Staples Center for Jonathan Bernier since he was dealt to Toronto last summer. The Leafs have already faced each of these clubs onnce this season, managing a single victory over the Ducks at the ACC in late October.dddddddddddd They lost to both the Sharks and Kings at home in December, currently 12-8-2 opposite Western opponents this year. It was in December that they endured a similar three-game test; one that saw them dealt the Kings, Blues and Blackhawks in a four-day stretch. Beaten by L.A. and St. Louis on a hellacious back-to-back, the Leafs managed to stun the defending champions at home on a Saturday night. Theyll need to raise their game to a similar level to survive Californias best. “Weve got to understand that theres a certain style of game that we have to play when we get out on the road,” said Carlyle. “We have to skate. Were a skating hockey club.” Winners in 11 of 14 before the Olympic break, Toronto has been a different team in the days after. Theyve lacked the same zip and have fumbled away third period leads in four of the five games – twice against the Flyers – splitting the difference with a pair of wins and pair of losses in overtime. Whether they get lost or not in the California triangle, the Leafs will continue their season-long road swing with a Sunday stop in D.C. against Alex Ovechkin before ending the trip once and for all at Joe Louis Arena on Tuesday. The Capitals and Wings sit just outside of a playoff spot currently, chasing the likes of Toronto for entry. Though in good standing at the moment for their second straight postseason berth with 17 games to play the Leafs have an opportunity to assert their worth against some of the leagues elite while pushing Montreal for second spot in the division. “Five big games coming up here,” said Troy Bodie. “We need some points out there. Theres not many left to be had.” ' ' '