Tiger Woods scored worse but played better Friday.

Coming off an opening round 68 Thursday, Woods followed up with a 71 in the second round of the U.S. Open being played at Pinehurst No. 2.

Standing at one-under 139 after two rounds, Woods took a step backward Friday. But, in stepping backward, he felt he had taken a step forward in his quest for an Open championship.

"Well, I hit the ball a lot better today," Woods said. "It was not as sporadic as it was yesterday. I hit a lot of good shots, controlled my trajectory and spin very well.

"I played the same way I did yesterday mentally, but physically I hit the ball better."

Working with his coach, Butch Harmon, on the practice range after Thursday’s round was the key, Woods said. Getting back into good position with his swing restored his confidence.

"I went back out there and hit it the same way I did on the range," Woods said. "To be able to carry what you worked on out on the golf course in play definitely builds confidence."

Woods feels he’s a better golfer now than ever, and points to the work on his swing as the reason.

"My game is better; my swing is better," Woods said. "I’m stronger than I’ve ever been; a lot of different things have contributed to my good play.

"But, more importantly, I think it’s the revamping of my swing that feels really good."

But a solid swing plane doesn’t conquer difficult playing conditions and "domed" greens with "questionable" pin placements.

Woods hit more greens and more fairways in the second round than he did Thursday, but took 31 putts as compared to 24 in the opening round.

"Yes, the conditions are difficult out there," Woods said. "The wind is up and its blowing in the trees. Some of the pin locations, in my mind, are questionable. It’s a difficult golf course."

Woods felt like some of the pin placements were located in areas where they shouldn’t be.

"They’re right on a knob," Woods said. "If you take a look at them, you’ll say that pin really shouldn’t be there."

But Woods wasn’t complaining, just pointing out the difficulty in the second-round pin placements. Showing a patience that is necessary to win an Open, Woods said, "It’s just one of those things.

"You just have to understand that you’ve got to put the ball in the center of the greens and walk away with pars."

Woods is pleased with where he stands heading into the final two days of his quest to win the Open.

"I’m very pleased just to be under par," he said. "I’m very pleased."