"Two bad swings and it cost me three shots," the 14-times major champion told Golf Channel after an errant tee shot led to a double-bogey five on the par-three 15th, which the American followed with a bogey five on the next hole.
However, the 42-year-old former world number one birdied the 17th and closed with a par to sit in a tie for 14th in his third tournament of 2018 as he continues his latest comeback following back surgery last year.
"It's a strong test right now," said Woods, who also had two birdies and a bogey on the front nine to sign for a one-over-par 141 total after 36 holes in testing conditions, particularly on the greens.
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"It feels good," he said. "I feel solid. I feel I am making some good passes at the golf ball and I've got pretty good pace on the greens, except for that putt at 16."
Early starter List made five birdies in a four-under 66 to surge up the leaderboard with the low round of the day after he had opened with a one-over 71 on Thursday.
"Only one bogey," List told reporters. "I'm really pleased the way I played. A bunch of pars and kind of hang on."
Fellow American Lovemark later shot a 69 for a share of the halfway lead.
"I finally found a driver I like," said the American, who made three of his four birdies on the back nine.
Overnight co-leader Webb Simpson was in a group of four one stroke behind the leading pair, the American shooting a 72 to join Briton Tommy Fleetwood (68), compatriot Russell Henley (70) and South African Rory Sabbatini (69) on two-under-par 138.
Justin Thomas, Daniel Berger and South African Louis Oosthuizen all shot 72s to join Belgium's Thomas Pieters (70) in a quartet tied for seventh on 139.
Swede Alex Noren, who had shared the first round lead with Simpson, shot a four-over 75 to join Woods' group of 10 at 141.
Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, shot a second consecutive 72 to sit seven off the lead, but defending champion Rickie Fowler failed to make the cut after a 76 gave him a 147 total, two shots shy of qualifying for the weekend.
(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina; Editing by John O'Brien)
