Three share Deutsche Bank lead

Norton, MA – Adam Scott continued his hot play Saturday with under 63 to grab a share of the lead after two rounds of the Deutsche Bank Championship.

Scott, who won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational four weeks ago, completed 36 holes at 10-under-par 132 and was joined in the lead by Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (66) and Bubba Watson (64).

Brandt Snedeker matched Watson's 64, thanks in part to a hole-in-one on the par-three 16th at the TPC Boston, to move into fourth place at minus-nine.

Nick Watney posted his second straight 67 to end two rounds alone in fifth at eight-under-par 134.

With 97 players competing in the second round, there was plenty to fight for as the top 70 on the points list will move on to the third playoff event, which is in two weeks.

The cut line fell at one-over-par 143 with 78 players moving on to the final two rounds.

Players who missed the cut, and were eliminated from the playoffs, included Ian Poulter, Brian Gay, Kevin Chappell, Anthony Kim and Stewart Cink. Former Masters champion Trevor Immelman withdrew after the first round and was also eliminated for the chase for the FedEx Cup.

Scott started on the back nine and posted his first birdie on the 11th. He birdied the 15th, then made the turn at six-under after he converted an eagle chance on the par-five 18th.

The Australian birdied No. 2, then notched back-to-back birdies from the fourth to get within one of Watson, who played in the morning wave. Scott grabbed a piece of the lead with a birdie on the par-five seventh and parred the last two holes.

"Obviously, shooting low is always nice, but this was a really solid round today," Scott said in an interview with Golf Channel. "I turned it around with the putter a little bit after a bit of a balky day on the greens yesterday. So, I'm very happy to put myself in the mix again."

Watson also started on No. 10 and parred his first three holes. After a birdie on 13, he tripped to a bogey on the 14th, but bounced back with a birdie on the 15th and followed with birdies on 17 and 18 to make the turn at six-under.

The 32-year-old birdied the second and fourth, both from just outside 10 feet. Watson rolled in a 12-footer for eagle on the par-five seventh for his second eagle in two days on that hole. Watson parred eight and nine to end at minus-10.

"I thought I was sick a few times, thought I had some energy problems, thought I had something wrong with me, and really it was just that I'm at a different stage of my life, more focused, more mental game, more preparation, all these things, and it just wears on you, and I had to get used to that," said Watson of his recent struggles.

"Each year, each time you step up in the game, it's a different level, different expectations, different things that go with it. So I'm trying to learn that."

Like the other two leaders, Schwartzel started on No. 10, but he was not nearly as successful. He played his opening nine in plus-one with two bogeys and a birdie on the 16th.

Schwartzel caught fire on the front nine, though, making birdies on each of the first four holes on the front side. After a par at the fifth, Schwartzel birdied six and seven to gain a piece of the lead.

"It's sometimes very crucial to come back straightaway, otherwise your round can get away from you," said Schwartzel of his bogey on No. 18. "The birdie on the first just got me going in the right mindset again. Great tee shot down two, and all of a sudden, I felt like, wow, I can do this again."

Two-time U.S. Open champion Ernie Els fired a six-under 65 to jump into a share of sixth place at seven-under-par 135. He was joined there by four Americans -- Jerry Kelly (69), Jason Dufner (67), Chez Reavie (68) and Rickie Fowler (67).

Els needs a big week after entering the event 99th on the points list with just the top 70 advancing.

NOTES: Snedeker was not the only player with a hole-in-one on Saturday. Greg Chalmers also aced the par-three 16th...Eight players who started the playoffs ranked between 101 and 125 on the points list moved on to this event. Two of them, Poulter and John Merrick, missed the cut and will not advance to the BMW Championship.