Fowler tied at the top, Woods fades

AKRON, Ohio, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- Rickie Fowler shot the low score of the second round Friday and vaulted into a share of the lead at the midway point of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Tiger Woods, playing in his first tournament in almost three months, failed to improve on his promising opening round and found himself trailing 35 players heading into the weekend.

Fowler, trying to win his first PGA Tour event and live up to the high expectations placed on him, shot a 6-under 64 at the Firestone Country Club's South Course to tie first-round leader Adam Scott, Ryan Moore and Keegan Bradley for first place at 132.

Scott settled for an even-par 70 after firing a 62 Thursday. Moore shot a 66 and Bradley, winner of the Byron Nelson Classic earlier this year, had a 65.

Martin Laird, Robert Karlsson and Jason Day shared fifth place at 133. Day bogeyed the final hole to fall out of a share of the lead.

Fredrik Jacobson and Brandt Snedeker were at 134. Nick Watney, the tour's leading money winner and points leader in the race for the FedEx Cup, was among those at 135.

Woods fell back in the pack with a 1-over 71 that left him at 139 for the tournament. He suffered a double-bogey at the par-4 sixth and missed a two-foot putt at the par-4 14th.

World No. 1 Luke Donald was at 3-under 137 after shooting a 69 and Phil Mickelson struggled to a 73 that left him at 140.

Of this year's major winners, U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy was best placed. He shot his second straight 68 and was tied for 13th at 136. Masters winner Charl Schwartzel was at 145 and recently-crowned British Open champ Darren Clarke was last in the elite field of 76 with a 151 total.

Fowler's wild round included eight birdies, an eagle and four bogeys. The eagle came when he holed out from the fairway at the par-4 third.