PARAMUS, New Jersey — Adam Scott used a run of four successive birdies Friday to vault into a share of the halfway lead at the Barclays, and Rory McIlroy joined the fray at the opener of the four-event FedExCup playoffs. The Australian world No. 2 caught fire from the par-four fifth hole to post a 31 on the front nine and added two more birdies including a nice finishing touch at 18 to stand at eight-under-par 134 along with American Cameron Tringale.
Tringale, who last week disqualified himself from the PGA Championship for signing an incorrect scorecard, shot a 68 to share a one-stroke lead on a jammed pack leaderboard.
World No. 1 McIlroy, on a blazing three-tournament winning streak that included major triumphs in the British Open and PGA Championship, shrugged off an opening 74 with a sizzling six-under 65 to move up to three-under par for the tournament.
One stroke behind the co-leaders were Jim Furyk (69) and fellow Americans Brendon Todd (69) and Kevin Chappell (67) on 135, one shot better than a group of six that included last year's FedExCup champion Henrik Stenson of Sweden and Australian Jason Day, who both fired 64s.
Also at six-under-par 136 were South African Ernie Els (68), Scotsman Russell Knox (69), Kevin Na (66), and American Bo Van Pelt (71), the overnight leader.
The cut for the elite field was set at one-over-par 143, with 79 players carrying on to Saturday's third round. The top 100 players on the FedExCup points list after the tournament will qualify for next week's Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston.
Among those missing the cut on an overcast day at Ridgewood Country Club were European Ryder Cup veteran Ian Poulter (72) and 2012 FedExCup winner Brandt Snedeker (74), who both finished just outside the cut at 144. US Open winner Martin Kaymer of Germany soared to a second-round 77 for 148. — Reuters
