GolfWeb wire reports

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- It came as a shock to some fans at Augusta National on Friday that 5-foot-10, 170-pound Scott McCarron could drive the ball over 300 yards, farther than playing partners Fred Couples and Steve Elkington.

It didn't surprise the cocky McCarron, who not only outhit the more celebrated players in his threesome, but outscored them for the second consecutive day. McCarron's 4-under-par 68 put him at seven under, one shot behind leader José Maria Olazábal after 36 holes.

On a star-studded Masters scoreboard, McCarron was one of the lesser lights, although he won the 1996 Freeport McDermott Classic and the 1998 BellSouth Classic. He feels he belongs with the big boys of the PGA Tour.

"When I'm playing with Greg Norman or Couples I feel I'm as good as them," he said. "You have to believe that or you don't belong out here."

It's not that McCarron hasn't proved he can play.

McCarron hits to the 8th on Friday. (AP)

"I've finished 10th and 16th at the Masters, and I've finished 10th at the U.S. Open," the 33-year-old said. "The media portrays Justin Leonard, Tiger Woods and David Duval as the young guns. But there are still guys like myself, Tim Herron and Paul Stankowski who are doing pretty good."

McCarron, who uses the long putter, capped off his round with a 15-foot downhill birdie putt on the slick 18th green. It was his sixth birdie against two bogeys. He has the length to reach Augusta National's par-5s and birdied two of them on the back nine.

"Any time you birdie the last hole it always makes supper taste better," he said. "I hit a lot of great shots out there today. I made bogeys but I didn't have any really bad shots. That's just the way it is. Augusta National is going to get you."

McCarron, of Rancho Murieta, Calif., played on UCLA's 1988 national championship team. He quit playing after leaving college and went into his father's clothing business.

He didn't start playing again until 1992. He got on the PGA Tour in 1995 after finishing 31st in qualifying school.

"After two days I feel great because I'm just one shot behind Jose and I've got two days left," he said. "They always say the Masters starts on the back nine on Sunday so we've got a lot of golf to play. But you better play good on Thursday and Friday to get to that back nine on Sunday."

McCarron did.