AUGUSTA – It was the longest day in Masters history.

Portable flood lights illuminated the practice areas before sunrise, play started at 7:30 a.m., and golfers grinded through their first and some of their second rounds until well after sunset. Play was suspended at 7:26 p.m. with all but 18 players still on the course.

Along the way, it seemed the Masters was in jeopardy of losing two-time defending champion Tiger Woods. After an opening-round 4-over-par 76, it looked like his pursuit of an unprecedented third consecutive Masters title was stuck in the mud on rain-soaked Augusta National.

But those who know the magic of Woods, who makes recreation out of extricating himself from the most precarious circumstances the way Batman used to from one Bat-episode to another, know better than to count out Woods out on any course in any tournament – especially at the Masters.

Remember the 40 he shot on the front nine in 1997 before blowing the Masters field away by a record 12 shots? Enough said.

The most accurate way to describe Woods’ effort is that he survived yesterday’s unique and grueling day at Augusta, where the first two rounds were crammed into one day because Thursday’s first round was postponed with the course rain-saturated.

As night fell, Woods (2-over through 28 holes) trailed leader Mike Weir (6-under through 30) by eight shots with both players needing to complete the second round.

“I’m right where I need to be,” Woods said. “I’ve still got a chance at this tournament. There’s a long way to go. The leaders aren’t going to run away and hide here with the way the conditions are.”

The conditions can best be described as an 18-hole bog, with spectators ankle-deep in the muck in places.

With some of the world’s best players recording unsightly numbers and heading toward a missed cut today (which is hovering around 4-over), and only four of 93 players under par, no one handled the elements better than Weir, the waiflike Canadian.

Weir, 5-9 and weighing 155 pounds after a roll in the mud with four sweaters, a parka and ski boots on, has won two tournaments this year and believes he’s poised to take the next step: Contend at – and maybe even win – a major.

Though he knows there’s much work to be done, he likes his position as much as the way he’s driving the ball and putting.

“It’s a thrill,” Weir said. “It’s a dream of mine coming in here to the interview room. I watched the news conferences the last four years when I was playing here back in my room. It’s nice to be here finally.

“I feel like my game’s been very solid this year and I have felt like the next step for me is to try and contend in major championships, and so far I’m doing it. We’ll see if I can do it all week.”

If he does, he’ll certainly have to contend with Woods, along with Darren Clarke, who’s two shots back at 4-under through 28 holes after taking a three-shot, first-round lead with an opening 66; Phil Mickelson, who’s 2-under through 29; and U.S. Amateur champion Ricky Barnes, who’s 1-under through 28.

Despite the fact Woods will begin today eight shots back, he remains very much the story, because it looked so grim early in the day for the three-time Masters winner.

“I’m still not out of this thing,” Woods said after his balky first round, which began with a chip-in for bogey on the first hole of the day.

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If at first you don’t succeed . . .

Tiger Woods never has led the Masters after the first round of play. In his attempt to become the first player to win three straight green jackets, Woods opened with a 4-over-par 76 on yesterday’s first 18 holes.

Following his worst first round at Augusta, Woods trailed Darren Clarke by 10 strokes.

Here’s a look at Woods’ past performances:

Year+First round (par), strokes behind+Final total (par)+Result

1995+72 (even), 6 back+293 (5-over)+Tied 41st, 19 back

1996+75 (3-over), 12 back+150 (6-over)+Missed cut

1997+70 (2-under), 3 back+270 (18-under)+Winner by 12

1998+71 (1-under), 2 back+285 (3-under)+Tied 8th, 6 back

1999+72 (even), 3 back+289 (1-over)+Tied 18th, 9 back

2000+75 (3-over), 7 back+284 (4-under)+Fifth, 6 back

2001+70 (2-under), 5 back+272 (16-under)+Winner by 2

2002+70 (2-under), 3 back+276 (12-under)+Winner by 3

2003+76 (4-over), 10 back

+Final two rounds this weekend