Not so long ago, Chad Campbell was considered by his peers the next golf-star-in-the-making.

Chad Campbell shot a 5-under 67 in his second round to get to 6-under for the tournament. (Assocaied Press)

Sports Illustrated conducted the poll in 2003 and wrote an accompanying feature on the burly Texan with the big smile.

Campbell was to be the man who would challenge Tiger Woods throughout this decade. His blue-collar roots -- he began his pro career on the Hooters Tour and earned his PGA Tour playing privileges by winning three events on golf's developmental circuit, now known as the Nationwide Tour, in one season -- made him appealing to the masses.

Campbell has failed to live up the hype. He's won just two PGA Tour events and has missed that cut in more than half his major championship appearances.

That all could change this weekend in the 70th Masters Tournament.

Campbell takes a three-stroke lead into Saturday's third round . He posted a 5-under 67 on a windy day at Augusta National Golf Club that saw most of the early contenders slide down the leader board.

Campbell is 6-under par through two rounds. First-round leader Vijay Singh, Rocco Mediate and Fred Couples are tied for second place at 3-under par. Couples was the only member of the trio to shoot a score under par Friday. Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els are among a group of five players at 2-under and tied for fifth place.

Campbell again impressed his peers Friday, particularly with is play in the blustery conditions.

"What Chad did was remarkable," Mediate said. "He's a great ball hitter, though, so I'm really not too surprised."

Campbell played steadily Friday, in sharp contrast to his play in Thursday's first round. Campbell finished with an up-and-down 1-under 71 Thursday, making five birdies and four bogeys. Three of his bogeys came in a three-hole stretch on the second nine.

Campbell made just one bogey Friday -- and he followed that misstep at No. 17 with a birdie at No. 18.

The winner of the 2003 Tour Championship, Campbell's best major championship finish is runner-up at the 2003 PGA Championship. His best Masters finish came last year, when he finished tied for 17th.

He isn't bothered by his lack of success in majors.

"I'd like to have 10 majors by now, but I don't really think about it to be honest with you," Campbell said.

A few golfers with multiple majors will give chase this weekend, led by Singh. As "easy" as his 5-under 67 came Thursday, Singh labored through his second round. He teed off in the afternoon, at the height of the windy conditions.

Singh had as many double bogeys -- three -- as birdies through 13 holes and temporarily fell off the leaderboard. He made two birdies in the final four holes to get back to 3-under, though, and likes his position going into the final two rounds.

"When you're going south, it's always harder to play when its like that. When it's going good, it's not so much of a problem," said the 2000 Masters champion. "I hung in there. I'm happy with my position. I would have like to have been a shots better, but I'm happy with where I am."

Mickelson and Els are too despite lackluster rounds. Mickelson shot even par and bogeyed the closing hole, No. 18. Els started the day at 1-under and shot a 3-under 33 on the first nine. A double bogey at No. 10 humbled him, though, and he cautiously maneuvered around the second nine to finish at 2-under.

"I had it going there for a while. I just played No. 10 really bad," said Els, a two-time U.S. Open winner. "But other than that, I played as solid as ever. 2-under seems like it's not too bad at the moment. I've got a chance Saturday and Sunday."

So does defending champion Tiger Woods, who rallied on the second nine Friday to get to 1-under for the tournament and into a tie for 10th. Woods bogeyed his first hole of the day to go over par for the tournament and balanced two more bogeys with three birdies over the next 12 holes.

He made the birdie that put him under par at No. 15.

Forty-seven players made the 36-hole cut at 4-over par. One cut-misser had a great day anyway -- 67-year-old Charles Coody. The 1971 Masters champion shot a 2-over 74 in his second round after posting an 89 in Thursday first round.

Coody was under par through 15 holes before bogeying his way in.