AKRON, Ohio -- Jim Furyk is two rounds away from erasing a couple of bad memories at Firestone.
Even with a bogey on his last hole for the second consecutive day, Furyk did plenty right Friday in the Bridgestone Invitational for another 4-under-par 66 that gave him a four-shot lead going into the weekend of this World Golf Championship.
Furyk ran off three birdies in a four-hole stretch late in his round to reach 8-under 132.
It's a familiar position for Furyk at Firestone, where he has done everything right except leave with the trophy. During a seven-hole playoff against Tiger Woods in 2001, Furyk missed three birdie putts inside 12 feet that would have won it for him, and Woods finally closed him out on the 79th hole of the tournament.
More painful was three years ago, when Furyk led wire-to-wire and was in the 18th fairway Sunday when one bad swing led to a double bogey and he lost by one stroke.
Furyk doesn't see this as a shot at redemption.
"I would say that I'm disappointed I've never won here," he said. "It's one of my favorite courses we play. But to have like a chip on my shoulder? No. It's another year and opportunity, and we're only halfway. I'm going to try to do the same things this weekend and not really look at the leaderboard that much and go try to shoot under par."
It might take every bit of that considering the cast behind him.
Bubba Watson (66) and Dustin Johnson (67), whose power is suited for this monster of a course, joined Shane Lowry of Ireland (66) at 4-under 136. Henrik Stenson (69) and Graeme McDowell (71) were among those another shot behind.
Masters and U.S. Open champion Jordan Spieth got within two shots of the lead when he chipped in for birdie on the third hole (his 12th of the round). He followed with back-to-back bogeys to drop back about the time Furyk was starting to pull away.
The wind was swirling, and Spieth said he didn't miss a shot during a four-hole stretch when he made two bogeys. In his sixth round at Firestone, Spieth finally broke par with a 68 that left him six shots behind.
"It goes with the bigger goal of trying to give myself a chance to win this championship," Spieth said. "It wasn't going to happen shooting even."
Spieth would have to win this week to replace Rory McIlroy at No. 1 in the world.
David Lingmerth (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 1-over 71, which put in a tie for 26th at 1-over.
Only 19 players from the 77-man field remained under par.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Montgomerie out front
CALGARY, Alberta -- Colin Montgomerie birdied three of the final four holes for an 8-under-par 62 and the first-round lead Friday in the Champions Tour's Shaw Charity Classic.
Playing alongside defending champion Fred Couples and Miguel Angel Jimenez, Montgomerie had nine birdies and a bogey at Canyon Meadows.
"I knew that if I kept up with them or kept around them, I was doing OK," Montgomerie said about his playing partners. "All in all, I got the most out of the round. I'm not one of these guys who's going to say it should have been 59. For God's sake, I got the most out of it."
The Scot successfully defended his title in the Senior PGA Championship in May for his third major victory on the 50-and-over tour.
"Week in and week out, you've got to play your best, there's no question," Montgomerie said. "If you don't play your best, you will not win, as simple as that."
Australia's Peter Senior was a stroke back. Corey Pavin was tied for third at 65 with Tommy Armour III, Michael Allen, Skip Kendall and Canada's Stephen Ames.
Couples and Jimenez each shot 67.
WEB.COM TOUR
Piller, Bertsch tied
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- Martin Piller and Shane Bertsch each shot 9-under-par 62 on Friday to share the second-round lead in the Web.com Tour's Digital Ally Open.
Bertsch birdied seven of the last eight holes and finished with 10 birdies and a bogey at the Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate. Piller also had 10 birdies and a bogey to reach 15-under 127.
Piller, 29 and married to LPGA Tour player Gerina Piller, won the Boise Open last month for his fourth tour title. Bertsch, 45, won the last of his three tour titles in 2005.
Tyler Duncan was a stroke back after a 64.
Andrew Landry (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 6-under 65 to get to 12 under and in a tie for fifth place. Zack Fischer (Little Rock) had his second consecutive 4-under 68 and sits in a tie for 29th along with Sebastian Cappelen (Razorbacks), who had a 3-under 68. Tag Ridings (Razorbacks) made the cut on the number after a 5-under 66 left him at 6 under for the tournament.
Sports on 08/08/2015