Snedeker and Day lead in Boston

AP

LEADER: Brandt Snedeker is the leader at the Deutsche Bank Championship

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American Brandt Snedeker putted brilliantly to take a share of the lead with Australian Jason Day after the second round of the US$7.5 million Deutsche Bank Championship.

Tiger Woods, who struggled with an opening round of 72, hit back with a six-under 65 to ensure he will see weekend action and have a chance to maintain his place in the lucrative FedExCup playoff series.

Snedeker did not miss a putt from inside 15 feet on his way to a seven-under 64 in breezy morning conditions at the Boston TPC.

"I definitely hit it better yesterday than today," Snedeker, referring to his long game, told reporters.

"Today I just putted fantastic. I made everything I looked at, so that was a nice way to get through the day."

He finished before the wind reached its peak, while Day had to endure the tougher afternoon conditions.

The 22-year-old from Australia's tropical Queensland state was up to the task, however, carding a bogey-free 67.

Snedeker and Day were at 12-under 130, one stroke ahead of Americans Matt Kuchar and Charley Hoffman, while Briton Luke Donald was two strokes off the pace.

Day made a confidence-boosting start when he chipped in from 85 feet at the first hole.

"It was one of those shots where you had to commit to the spot that you were going to hit it," said Day, who has been in top form since his maiden tour victory at the Byron Nelson Championship in Texas in May.

"I birdied the first two holes and the last two holes and felt like I hit it just as good as yesterday."

Tiger Woods pulled within seven strokes of the lead and was delighted with the quality of his game.

"I missed a few but the only bad putt I hit was at 16. Other than that I really rolled it well.

"I just felt better today, more energetic and ready to go. It was a clean card and could have been a little lower.

"I had to shoot a good one if I was going to move on today, and I did that."

Woods is ranked 65th in the playoff series and needs a strong finish here to ensure he will be among the 70 to advance to the BMW Championship outside Chicago, the third of the four-stop playoff series.

American Chad Campbell will not see weekend action after being disqualified for failing to sign a legal liability form before the tournament.

Bizarrely, Campbell was allowed to play his first round before the mistake came to light on Friday night.

Officials informed him on Saturday morning.

"That's the way it goes. It just kind of slipped my mind," said Campbell, part of a three-way playoff at last year's Masters.

It was not the worst mistake he had made, he said, recalling flying to Hawaii for a tournament last year which he had not entered. "It's starting to be a trend," he quipped.

- Reuters