Van Pelt hits breakthrough round

The wait was worth it for Bo Van Pelt.

He missed the cut in his only other Masters Tournament appearance in 2005, but on Saturday he proved he belongs in what he calls "the greatest golf tournament in the world."

The 35-year-old from Tulsa, Okla., made five birdies over a nine-hole stretch, posting his best round at the Masters with 4-under-par 68.

Van Pelt's effort, boosted by an excellent day with the driver in which he hit 11 of 14 fairways, put him on the leaderboard at 6-under and in eighth place.

"I think if I'd shot a good score in '05, I would probably have been surprised," said Van Pelt, who shot 76 and 75 in 2005. "I'm pleased (with this score), but I'm not like totally shocked."

Van Pelt did a little of everything Saturday, avoiding three-putts and making sure one of his rare errant drives was a catalyst for his five-birdie, one-bogey round.

Van Pelt's drive off No. 8 found a bunker. Not only did he execute the bunker shot, but his 9-iron into the green also ended up about four inches from the cup for a tap-in birdie that ended a streak of seven pars and ignited his round.

"I was just kind of was plodding along and playing solid," said Van Pelt, whose father, Bob, was a fifth-round NFL draft pick in 1967 by the Philadelphia Eagles. "I made the nice birdie at eight and hit in there for a gimme. After driving it in the bunker, that's kind of a bonus.

"I was playing well, just not making birdies, which is fine out here. But after that first birdie, I was able to get the back nine going in the right direction."

Van Pelt produced birdies on Nos. 11, 13, 15 and 16 before giving one back at No. 18 because of a wayward drive.

Van Pelt said the lessons he learned in 2005, along with watching veteran Fred Couples play this course, helped out Saturday.

"I just kept the ball in position to score," he said. "That's the key to this golf course. You just have to be on the right side of the hole and put the ball in the fairway, and I did that pretty much all day except at 18.

"You look at Fred Couples. He could play this golf course in his sleep. He knows every place to play from. That's what makes him so good here. There are just certain areas you have to play from. If you aren't there, you will have a tough time."