Retief Goosen often gets left out of the discussion about the top golfers in the world. He's ranked No. 5, and the hype usually surrounds Nos. 1-4.

Through the first 13 holes of the Masters Tournament, though, Goosen has played himself into a five-way tie for fourth, including two of those top four players.

Goosen is tied with reigning Masters champion and world No. 4 Phil Mickelson, No. 1 Vijay Singh, Ryan Palmer and Stuart Appleby at 2-under par.

The other two members of the "Big Four" - No. 2 Tiger Woods and No. 3 Ernie Els - are over par with most of the front nine left to play.

Goosen finished holes 1 through 13 before the first round was suspended due to darkness at 7:23 p.m. The first round will resume today at 9:45 a.m., and the second round is expected to begin at 10:20 a.m. with a two-tee start.

Goosen and Singh both birdied three holes and bogeyed one, while Mickelson needed birdie putts on Nos. 2, 3, 8 and 10 to join the pack at 2-under par after bogeying Nos. 1 and 5.

If Singh hadn't three-putted from 100 feet on his final hole - No. 11 - he'd be tied with Luke Donald (14 holes completed) and clubhouse leader Mark Hensby at 3-under par.

"I hit my driver beautifully, had some good saves," Singh said. "Overall, I played well. It was just disappointing on how I finished."

Chris DiMarco is the leader at 4-under par with four holes to finish.

Els had the worst round of the top five. He and Woods started on No. 10. Els came off No. 2 at 3-over par with seven holes to go. He bogeyed Nos. 10, 11, 15 and 18 and birdied 17.

Woods was one shot better than Els, but had a bizarre day. He bogeyed No. 11 and then No. 13 after putting off the green and into the water. On No. 14 there was question whether Woods violated Rule 16(e), "Standing astride or on line of putt."

The rule states that "the player must not make a stroke on the putting green from a stance astride, or with either foot touching, the line of putt or an extension of that line behind the ball."

After reviewing the tape of Woods' second putt, Will F. Nicholson Jr., the chairman of the competition and rules committees, said the tape was inconclusive and no penalty would be assessed.

Woods birdied No. 15 before getting his final bogey at No. 1. His approach shot hit the flag stick and bounced into the bunker. He two-putted after reaching the green.

Reach Kristy Shonka at (706) 823-3216 or kristy.shonka@augustachronicle.com.