Jose Maria Olazabal (Stats | Bio) can't explain it.

He can play poorly the first three months of the year and, when he arrives in Augusta for the Masters Tournament, turn his game around.

"Well, it must be something with this place, I don't know,'' he said after shooting 3-under-par 69 to gain a share of second place Friday. "I don't feel much different to how I felt last week. The parts of the game are pretty much the same.''

Olazabal was among the 18 players who had to finish the first round Friday morning, and the two-time Masters champion calmly birdied the 18th hole to complete a 1-under-par 71. He trails Justin Rose (Stats | Bio) by two shots heading into today's play.

In his second round, Olazabal was even through 12 holes. Then he played Nos. 13-15 in eagle-birdie-birdie fashion to jump up the leaderboard.

"That was my round,'' Olazabal said.

The birdies on Nos. 14 and 15 were from relatively close range. But the eagle on No. 13, after driver and a 3-iron shot to the green, came from roughly 40 feet.

"It was a very quiet round until 13,'' Olazabal said.

Playing partner Davis Love III (Stats | Bio) made an eagle of his own on the 15th and stands at 2-under par for the tournament. He said the Spaniard should never be left out of any list of favorites for the Masters.

"I don't know why they underrate him,'' Love said. "He's very determined. I think something about this place gets him fired up. He knows that he has a chance here as soon as he pulls through the gates.''

After his play in the early part of 2004, it's a safe bet that Olazabal was looking forward to making the drive down Magnolia Lane.

In eight starts this year on the PGA Tour, Olazabal's best finish has been a tie for 32nd at the Nissan Open. He did tie for 10th in a European Tour event, but nothing he has done has suggested that he would contend this week.

"He's very relentless. It doesn't really matter what kind of shots he hits or where his ball is, he still gets after it and never gives up,'' Love said. "You can really appreciate a guy who is that focused.''

Olazabal, not known for his length off the tee, has defied logic by finishing in the top eight the past two years at the Masters despite a beefed-up layout. The rain Thursday did not help his cause, making a fast and firm track slightly softer and costing him distance.

Still, Olazabal is in a familiar spot: near the lead at the Masters.

"Every time I come here, I try to do my best,'' Olazabal said. "I feel in a way a little bit at peace with myself.''

Reach John Boyette at (706) 823-3337 or john.boyette@augustachronicle.com.