Coming off a great week and a second place finish at the Memorial, Fred Couples shot a 65 and has the lead going into the weekend at the Buick Classic. Couples birdied his last two holes to grab a one shot lead over Vijay Singh and head into the weekend at ten under par. Singh rocketed to the lead on Thursday with a scorching 63 powered by a 30 (yes 30!) on the front nine at Westchester Country Club in Harrison, New York. Singh birdied holes two through five and had six total birdies and no bogies on the front side on Thursady. Today was a different story, however, as he managed only two birdies and a bogey for a 70 which leaves him one shot back at nine under.

Those behind Couples include Fredrick Jacobson and Luke Donald at nine under with Singh; Tom Byrum who eagled the 18th for a 64 -- the best round of the day -- to finish at 7 under; and a group at six under that includes Padraig Harrington. Jacobson, who shot 64 on Thursday and had an eagle both days, was leading with one hole to play but logged a double-bogey on the par five ninth.

Masters winner Phil Mickelson and recent Memorial winner Ernie Els are in a large group at minus five. Jesper Parnevik, Mike Wier, Chad Campbell and Colonial winner David Toms all missed the cut in the final tune-up before the US Open next week. They will have the weekend to try and turn their game around.

Tiger Woods took the week off to prepare for the next major. He is currently on an 0 for 8 streak in majors and you have to think he wants very badly to show the world he still has what it takes. While Tiger has struggled (struggled for Tiger = 123 cuts made in a row, fourth on the money list, seven top tens in ten events, including a win and two thirds) his challengers have been rising to the occasion. Mickelson finally won a major and had a hot start; Vijay - last year's and current money leader - has three wins and 8 top tens; Ernie Els overtook Vijay for second place in the world rankings and finally won an event with Tiger in the hunt on Sunday. These guys are not scared of Tiger anymore. Golf has been looking for a major rival to challenge Tiger and now he has three world class golfers fighting to replace him at number one (not to mention dozens of other challengers who can win a tournament on any given week). All of this should make for an exciting US Open next week and interesting race for player of the year.

But first, they have to finish the Buick. All of the contenders would love a win of course (none more than Couples whose stellar play was overshadowed by Els' amazing weekend at the Memorial), but for Vijay, Phil and Ernie getting hot in time for a major is what is important.

Saturday is referred to as "moving day." Tomorrow is an opportunity for those at the top to pull away from the field or give back some ground. As for me, I am rooting for Couples. I have always enjoyed watching Freddy's smooth swing and even keeled demeanor. Plus the guy is 44 and has to undergo acupuncture for back pain. Couples' back prevented him from being the superstar many thought he was destined to be and I'd love to see him get hot again. With is filed and the course allowing players to go low, however, there are a lot of players still in this one.