McIlroy leads, Oosthuizen and Woods chasing

Sports

McIlroy leads, Oosthuizen and Woods chasing

Close

McIlroy had a 12-under total of 130 after two rounds on the par-71 TPC Boston layout.

02 September,2012 11:59 am

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy fired a second straight 65 on Saturday for a slim halfway lead in the Deutsche Bank Championship with Louis Oosthuizen and Tiger Woods heading the chasing pack.Northern Irelands McIlroy, who earned his second career major title at the PGA Championship in August, had a 12-under total of 130 after two rounds on the par-71 TPC Boston layout.South Africas Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, was one shot back after a 65 for 131 and 14-time major champion Woods carded a 68 for 132, where he was joined by compatriot Ryan Moore, who also carded a 68.McIlroys round included an eagle on the revamped par-five 18th -- his ninth hole of the day -- where he stuck his approach shot eight feet from the pin.He had two bogeys on his inward nine, finding the water at the par-five second for a six and also bogeying the par-three third. But he bounced back with birdies at four and five and was in the clubhouse on 12-under 130.Overnight leader Seung-Yul Noh of South Korea had an even par 71 that included an eagle and a double-bogey and was in a group of five players on 133 that also included South Africas 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel (65).Nine players were separated by three shots heading into Sundays third round of the $8 million tournament, which is scheduled to end Monday on the US Labor Day holiday.Prior to the event, the second in the US PGA Tours four-tournament playoff series that ends with the Tour Championship in Atlanta, McIlroy predicted the winning total after four rounds on Monday would be from 15- to 18-under par.Now that Im in the tournament, I just want to play as well as I can and maybe reassess things going into the last day, McIlroy said.But I was very happy with the two scores that Ive got already and know that I need to go out and play just as good tomorrow to give myself a chance going into Monday.