Davis Love III (Stats | Bio) has noticed something of a trend over the past few years at the Masters Tournament that coincides with the recent changes at many of the holes at the Augusta National Golf Club.

The eagle has become an endangered species.

"I've been saying it for years, there's not as many eagles, certainly on my scorecard," he said. "You know the holes are harder, that's just all there is to it. (No.) 2 is longer, (No.) 8 is longer, a lot longer. (No.) 13 is a tougher drive. (No.) 15 is a lot harder drive."

However, his round - and perhaps how far he goes in the 2004 tournament - might have turned on the eagle he bagged on the 15th in Friday's second round.

The eagle propelled Love to 5-under-par 67, making up for the dismal 75 he shot in the first round and putting him in contention to earn his first green jacket.

Love enters today's third round at 2-under for the tournament, four shots off the lead held by Englishman Justin Rose (Stats | Bio) .

The resident of Sea Island, Ga., was already putting together a good round when he came to the 15th.

After hitting his drive into the fairway, Love hit a 5-iron that got caught in the wind and landed on the front of the green, about 50 feet from the flag.

Undaunted, he sank the monstrous putt, gaining two shots on par to get to 3-under. He would bogey No. 17, but that wasn't enough to dampen his round or spirits.

"I needed to get under par," Love said. "That was a big thing. I'll have a chance now no matter what these guys do.

"I think anybody under par has got a good chance going into the weekend."

Love has made no secret about how much he wants to win the Masters.

He has been runner-up twice but also has some poor results, admitting his desire to get a green jacket sometimes causes him to not play his best.

His first-round 75, which he completed Friday morning, was not the start he had hoped for, and was reminiscent of the 77 he opened with in 2003. But a chat with sports psychologist Bob Rotella on Friday morning got him in the right frame of mind.

"I was a little out of my rhythm (Thursday). I hit some bad shots, maybe trying too hard just to hit it," Love said. "But today I got back into just playing golf and getting my targets and putting to make every putt. That old cliche that we all throw out there, one shot at a time and all that, I did a good job."

Reach Mike Wynn at (706) 823-3218 or mike.wynn@augustachronicle.com.