ORLANDO, Fla. --- There's a contingent of players with a chance to punch a ticket into next month's Masters Tournament with a victory today in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

There's one problem with that scenario, and it's a big one.

The non-qualifiers will have to beat four-time Masters champion Tiger Woods, who is seeking his fifth consecutive PGA Tour title, dating back to the end of last season.

Woods, who has said his intent is to go undefeated this year, is two-for-two so far and is back on his game after shooting 4-under-par 66 on Saturday.

The world's No. 1-ranked player is tied for the lead, which doesn't bode well for the field. Woods has won 42 of the 45 times he's entered a final round either leading or tied.

He's at 6-under 204, along with defending champion Vijay Singh (73 on Saturday), Sean O'Hair (63), Bart Bryant (68) and Bubba Watson (68).

"I worked on it (his game) last night and this morning," said Woods, who opened with 70-68. "I felt I had a pretty good handle on what I needed to do today."

Tournament host Arnold Palmer could see that on the practice range. He watched Woods hit a few shots and "he liked what I was doing with my swing," Woods said.

Hunter Mahan (65) is one shot behind the five co-leaders. Golfers two back are Nick Watney (70), Tom Lehman (71), Cliff Kresge (71), Lee Westwood (72) and Ken Duke (72).

Bryant, Lehman, Kresge and Duke are not in the Masters field, but that would change with a win today.

This is the first time since 1999 that the winners of PGA Tour events (other than Fall Series events or those opposite World Golf Championships) can play their way into the Masters with a win. Augusta National Golf Club went back to the former tour-winners qualification after the 20007 Masters.

"It adds some excitement to it," said former Augusta State standout Vaughn Taylor.

Taylor tied for 10th in the 2007 Masters, so he's already in at Augusta National.

He can claim his third tour title today, but he has 11 players in front of him. Taylor had 72 Saturday and is three shots off the lead.

In all, there are 19 players within four shots of the lead at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.

"It's very wide open," Woods said. "A bunch of guys have a chance. If the wind blows like it did today, then it will be very interesting."

Woods started the day seven shots off Singh's 36 hole lead -- in a tie for 20th place -- but is now tied after a six-birdie, two-bogey trip.

"It's no surprise; you kind of expect it," Watney said.

A win today would give Woods 64 for his career, and tie Ben Hogan for third place on the tour's victory list. Jack Nicklaus has 73 and Sam Snead 82.

Singh started giving shots away early (5-over-par 40 on the front nine) but came back with 2-under 33 on the back nine.

Watney, with two eagles, had the lead after 15 holes, but made quadruple-bogey eight on No. 16 to give it up. He did par the final two holes.

"I just had one unfortunate hole," Watney said. "It's time to get by that, get past it and see what happens tomorrow."

Taylor could be among the leaders if not for his problems on the greens Saturday. He had 34 putts -- nine more than Thursday when he shot 68 and eight more than his Friday round of 67.

"I putted horribly," Taylor said. "It was probably my worst putting day of the year. It was just a bad day. I putted good the first couple of days so I'm not really worried about it. I think you're allowed a bad day here and there. Hopefully, it will click tomorrow."

Taylor even three-putted from 8 feet for bogey on No. 12.

"I don't know what happened today," he said. "I hit the putts and looked up and was kind of baffled. I don't know what was going on."

Reach David Westin at (706) 823-3224 or david.westin@augustachronicle.com.