Roy Ishikawa remained at the top of the leaderboard in the Quicken Loans National on Friday, but Tiger Woods shot a 5-under-par 66 in the second round to move three behind heading into the weekend at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va.
Woods, the host of the PGA Tour event who is seeking his first victory in nearly two years, dropped a 36-foot birdie putt on No. 8 to highlight his day. He is tied for fifth in a group of nine players at 8 under.
The 66 was his low round relative to par this year and just his seventh score below 70.
"If I keep hitting good putts, eventually they're going to go in," said Woods, whose world ranking has nose-dived to No. 266. "I made my share on my back nine and especially that bomb on eight. That was a bit lucky, but I'll take it."
Ishikawa birdied the last three holes and finished two rounds at 11-under 131. One shot behind Ishikawa was Kevin Chappell and Rickie Fowler, who fired a 65 after birdies on his final three holes. Chappell had a 68.
Ishikawa had four birdies and four bogeys before his closing birdie binge that started on the par-3 16th when his tee shot stopped two inches from the cup and ended on 18 when he made a 31-foot putt.
The 23-year-old Ishikawa has yet to win the PGA Tour. His best finish this year is a tie for eighth in The Players Championship.
David Lingmerth, who won the Memorial in June, was alone at 9 under after a 65 that featured five birdies on his final nine holes.
Defending champion Justin Rose was tied for 19th at 5 under.
