Duval, the world's No. 2-ranked player but winless for more than a year, said earlier this week that the Masters would be his ``to win over lose.''

The former Georgia Tech four-time All-American is playing so well he could be prophetic on the former count.

Duval leads three golfers by one shot after Friday's bogey-free 7-under-par 65, the low round of the tournament.

``David wins with ease when he's really on his game,'' said Ernie Els, one of the golfers who trails Duval by a shot.

Duval, who shot 73 in the opening round, passed 24 players with his 65, the low round of the tournament by one shot and Duval's best round here by two shots.

Duval, 28, is at 6-under-par 138 for two trips over the Augusta National Golf Club. He leads Els, Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh by one shot and Tom Lehman and Steve Jones by three.

Tiger Woods, the No. 1-ranked player in the world, is nine shots back after rounds of 75-72-147.

Mickelson lost his chance to have a share of the lead when he missed a 5-footer for birdie on the 18th hole.

``I've made it known all year that I was looking forward to this stretch,'' Duval said. ``So here we are and I'm happy to have played well and I look forward to continuing to do that.''

Duval needed just 25 putts over the treacherous Augusta National greens Friday while striking for five birdies and an eagle. The eagle came on the par-5 15th hole, where he hit a 5-iron second shot to within 10 feet of the pin and sank the putt.

His birdies came on Nos. 2, 12, 14, 17 and 18.

He's certainly got the attention of the 95-player field, which was trimmed to 57 players after the cut came at 4-over-par 148.

``It's great that I've played well so far, but I'm not really concerned with my position,'' Duval said. ``I've had one goal for a while, and that's to be leading when we're done on Sunday afternoon. Everybody seems to be asking players what their goals are, so I just told everybody that tournament champion is what my goals were.''

Duval's 65 which featured a 6-under-par 30 on the back nine, one shot off the back-nine record.

``David's round was exceptional,'' Mickelson said.

Duval also led after two rounds of the 1998 Masters. That year, he followed opening rounds of 71-68 with 74-67 and lost by one shot to Mark O'Meara.

Els and Singh shot 67s and Mickelson had a 68 on Friday. Singh had seven birdies, Els had six and Mickelson five.

Of the top four golfers, Duval and Mickelson have yet to win major championships. Els has won two U.S. Opens and Singh has a PGA Championship title.

``Both of them are real