Scott nabs share of Barclays lead

Adam Scott, teeing off Friday on the fifth hole at The Barclays, took advantage of a 6-under-par 65 to move into a tie for first with Cameron Tringale after two rounds.
Adam Scott, teeing off Friday on the fifth hole at The Barclays, took advantage of a 6-under-par 65 to move into a tie for first with Cameron Tringale after two rounds.

PARAMUS, N.J. -- Now that the majors are over, Adam Scott is going after the only big prize left this year -- a shot at the $10 million FedEx Cup title.

Scott ran off four consecutive birdies in the middle of his round Friday, and then closed with an approach that settled a foot from the cup for a tap-in birdie and a 6-under 65. That gave him a share of the 36-hole lead with Cameron Tringale at The Barclays.

Three dozen players were within five shots of the lead, a group that includes British Open and PGA champion Rory McIlroy. The world's No. 1 player, going after his fourth consecutive victory, shook off some rust on the range and was nine shots better than his opening round with a 65.

Scott won The Barclays a year ago at Liberty National, and it felt like a bonus in a year in which he won his first major at the Masters. He never had a serious chance at any of the majors this year, and he is looking at the FedEx Cup playoffs differently.

"There's so much to play for, and for me to be satisfied with the year, I need four really great weeks," Scott said.

Scott and Tringale were at 8-under 134. Kevin Chappell (67), Brendon Todd (69) and Jim Furyk (69) were one shot behind. The group two shots back included Henrik Stenson (64), Jason Day (64) and Ernie Els, who is playing his sixth consecutive tournament and shot a 68.

Bryce Molder (Conway) had four birdies and a bogey for a 3-under 68 (142) and is tied for 59th.

Some scorecards needed more than just numbers, starting with Phil Mickelson.

Mickelson took a bogey on the "five-and-dime" fifth hole, thusly named because Byron Nelson always used a 5-iron and a wedge. Mickelson, like so many other players, tried to drive the green and took a wild detour. His shot bounced into the grandstand, behind a row of seats on the thin carpet of the hospitality area. Instead of dropping into deep grass, he chose to play it out of the bleachers, right next to a half-filled glass of beer on a table.

It went too long, over the green and into a bunker, though it gave the crowd a thrill.

"It wasn't hard to make contact. It was hard to hit it on that skinny little green and get it to stop," Mickelson said.

He compared it with trying to hit a shot off the cart path, except the carpet "doesn't scrape up your club as much."

Mickelson birdied his last hole for a 72 to make the cut on the number.

Seung-yul Noh made a bogey by playing off the wrong green -- except it turned into a triple bogey because he didn't know that he wasn't allowed to hit off the putting surface from a different hole. His tee shot on No. 11 was so far right that it landed on the third green. Noh took a divot off the green, and a rules official drove up and told him the rule, which comes with a two-shot penalty.

McIlroy kept his excitement to birdies. The 25-year-old from Northern Ireland said he took a week away from golf to celebrate his big summer -- two majors and his first World Golf Championship -- and paid for it with an opening 74. But the range session Thursday afternoon did wonders, and he went from below the cut line to within five shots of the lead.

Lee Westwood kept his PGA Tour season going -- barely. He shot a 73 and made the cut on the number at 1-over 143. Because 79 players made the cut, there will be a 54-hole cut today, only the second such cut in the playoffs since the new policy began in 2008.

The top 100 from the FedEx Cup advance to the second playoff event next week outside Boston, with the top 70 advancing to third event in Denver and the top 30 going to East Lake in Atlanta for the Tour Championship and a shot at the $10 million prize.

LPGA TOUR

Ryu leads by 5

LONDON, Ontario -- So Yeon Ryu of South Korea shot a 6-under 66 Friday in another bogey-free round to take an early five-stroke lead at the Canadian Women's Open.

American Danielle Kang had a 68 and Anna Nordqvist of Sweden shot a 69 at London Hunt and Country Club. They are tied with Na Yeon Choi (70-134) for second place.

American Cristie Kerr won the tournament the last time it was held here in 2006. She shot a 68 (135) on Friday and is in fifth place, trailing the leader by six shots.

Brittany Lincicome, who was a runner-up to Inbee Park at the LPGA Championship last week, had the best round of the day with a 65 and trails Ryu by seven shots.

Ryu set a course record with a 63 on Thursday.

Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) had five birdies and a bogey for a 4-under 68 (139). She is tied for 24th.

WEB.COM TOUR

Ortiz out front

Carlos Ortiz had two eagles, five birdies and a bogey for an 8-under 63 (129) and the lead Friday at the Portland Open in North Plains, Ore.

Nicholas Lindheim was in second place after shooting a 64 (130). Mark Hubbard had a 65 (132), good for third.

Matt Fast and James Nitties were tied for fourth at 133. Fast shot a 70 and Nitties had a 67.

Glen Day (Little Rock) had four birdies and four bogeys for an even-par round of 71 (140). Scott Gardiner (Farmington) had four birdies, one double bogey and one 3+ bogey for a 5-over 76 (144). Sebastian Cappelen (Arkansas Razorbacks) had one birdie, four bogeys and two double bogeys for a 7-over 78 (146).

CHAMPIONS TOUR

Goodes in front

Mike Goodes' eagle and six birdies put him at 8-under 64 and gave him the lead Friday in the first round of the Boeing Classic at Snoqualmie, Wash.

Mark Brooks had a 65 and was alone in second.

Gene Sauers, Scott Hoch, Mark O'Meara, Jeff Sluman and Mark McNulty each shot a 66 and were tied for third.

EUROPEAN TOUR

Donaldson keeps lead

VYSOKY UJEZD, Czech Republic -- Jamie Donaldson shot a 3-under 69 Friday to retain a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Czech Masters and keep alive his hopes of a spot on Europe's Ryder Cup team.

Seeking his third European Tour victory, the Welshman was in a position to stretch his lead after producing six birdies and a bogey before finishing the second round with two bogeys on the last three holes for an overall 9-under 135.

Gregory Bourdy of France is one stroke back after carding 67.

Another Ryder Cup hopeful Stephen Gallacher (67) is tied in third after the Scot hit five consecutive birdies for a 7-under 137 while Joost Luiten of the Netherlands, also seeking a Ryder Cup place, shot 71 for a 3-under 141.

Sports on 08/23/2014

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