AUGUSTA, GA. - There is a seven-inch scar on the right side of Trevor Immelman's back where doctors went in last December to remove a golf ball-sized tumor that had attached itself to his diaphragm, making the simple act of breathing almost too painful to endure.

For two morphine-dulled days, Immelman awaited results on the tumor, which turned out to be a rare benign variety. For two weeks, he couldn't walk, and for more than a month, he couldn't play golf.

All of that was a second, unrelated chapter to a health story that began a year ago when a parasite attacked Immelman's system, causing him to lose 22 pounds and a month of his golf season. He spent Masters week, before the ailment was diagnosed, munching on toast and wondering why he felt so poorly.

And today, midway through a Masters with a still-fuzzy plot line, Immelman has a one-stroke lead over Brandt Snedeker while the imposing presence of Tiger Woods sits on the periphery.

"Obviously, this year is pretty special," said Immelman, who has made nine birdies and one bogey so far.

If the year's first major championship was supposed to be the unfolding of Woods' quest to win the Grand Slam, it has veered in a different direction.

While Woods has made two unspectacular tours around Augusta National, Immelman has been nearly flawless, pairing rounds of 68 for an 8-under-par 136 total after two warm, mostly sunny days.

Snedeker, whose blond hair spills out like a surfer's locks from under his visor, sits a stroke behind, while Phil Mickelson, Ian Poulter and Steve Flesch are three from the lead.

Woods, meanwhile, is seven off the lead and tied for 13th with this reality facing him -- since 1986, no player has come from outside the top 10 after 36 holes to win the green jacket.

"I'm in good shape," Woods said. "You just have to stay patient on this course."

Immelman, who lost the 2006 Wachovia Championship in a playoff to Jim Furyk, spiced his day with birdies at the 17th and 18th holes, reshaping the top of the scoreboard. He holed a 15-footer at the 17th, then floated an 8-iron approach to within 10 feet of the hole at 18.

Happy to be healthy again -- Immelman confessed to worrying about every ache and pain for weeks after his surgery -- he has also been lifted by his surroundings.

"The whole atmosphere, the mystique, the way the golf course is set up, everything about this tournament and this venue, it's what dreams are made of," Immelman said.

Asked jokingly after his round how the morphine high compared to the kick of finishing with two birdies, Immelman chose the feeling at Augusta National.

"I felt kinda bulletproof when I was in the hospital," Immelman said. "It was a little bit degrading when you have other people washing you morning and night."

Other than a tie for fifth here three years ago, Immelman's Masters record is undistinguished. The same could be said for his 2008 season, which has produced just one finish inside the top 40 and left him "lacking in total confidence."

Immelman will be paired today with Snedeker, last year's PGA Tour rookie of the year and winner of the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro.

Snedeker played the first two days with his boyhood idol, Tom Watson, whose quick tempo is similar to his own. Like Immelman, Snedeker closed his second round with birdies on the 17th and 18th holes.

It was, however, Snedeker's touch of improvised magic on the sixth green that provided the day's most sparkling moment.

Having left his tee shot on the par-3 in a wicked spot -- on the back right plateau with the hole cut near the back left corner and down a sizeable slope -- Snedeker made the unconventional play of clipping a lob wedge shot off the putting surface.

Figuring a bogey 4 was a reasonable result, Snedeker watched his ball disappear into the hole for a deuce.

"I was more nervous on that shot than I was all day because I knew if I messed it up, people were going to have a field day with me," Snedeker said.

The cut came at 5-over 147, leaving a small field of 45 in the weekend field.

Fred Couples' streak of 23 consecutive cuts made -- tying Gary Player's record for the longest in tournament history -- ended when he missed the mark by one stroke, seeing a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th green slide past the hole, leaving him at 4-over-par 148.

"I'm not going to make it, I'm kind of disappointed in that," Couples said.

"But I'm really disappointed with the way I played."

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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