This Rose still blooming at Augusta National

AUGUSTA, Ga. — This was a day for celebrating the past and looking ahead to the future at the Masters.

Englishman Justin Rose, the youngest pro in the field at 23, showed his opening-day performance was no fluke, playing steady as a rock Friday while everyone else jockeyed for position.

Among those chasing: Tiger Woods, who rebounded from a birdieless Thursday with a 3-under-par 69 that broke his streak of five consecutive rounds over par in the majors — the longest of his career. Woods, who hasn't won a major since the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage, climbed back to even par for the tournament, extending his record streak of cuts made to 121.

Rose opened with a 67 and followed with a 71, maintaining the two-stroke lead he had at the beginning of the day. It was nothing spectacular — two birdies, one bogey and 15 pars.

While Rose plodded along, Arnold Palmer said goodbye to the Masters. The King turned his final round into a lovefest, cracking jokes and frequently stopping to chat with patrons who cheered their 74-year-old hero's every step.

Jack Nicklaus may follow Palmer out the gate. The six-time champion said again this likely was his final Masters, though he's been known to change his mind before.

If this was it, Nicklaus sure went out in style. At No. 18, he knocked a pitching wedge from 84 yards to within a foot of the flag, tapping in for his second straight 75.

"I could well be done," said Nicklaus, likely to miss the cut after three-putting six times over two days. "If I don't play next year, it's no big deal. I've played 44 Masters. I've been out here a long time. I have no regrets."

While the 64-year-old Nicklaus struggled to make putts, playing partner Alex Cejka was draining them from all over the course. The German shot 70 for the second day in a row and was only two strokes behind Rose.

"He putted unbelievable," Nicklaus said. "I don't know how many miles of 20-foot putts he made, but it's a lot of 'em."

In contrast to Rose's steady play, K.J. Choi endured a wild ride through the colorful azaleas and towering pines. The South Korean surged to the lead with a 30 on the front nine, tying a course record and getting his score to 7-under.

The back nine provided nothing but misery, beginning with three straight bogeys. He also bogeyed 16 and settled for a 2-under 70 — three strokes off the pace.

Chris DiMarco also knew what it like to be a leader, but he lost three strokes in two holes — a double-bogey at 13 was followed by a bogey at 14 — and staggered in with a 73.