Australian golfer Adam Scott surges into contention at US PGA playoffs

 Adam Scott tees off in PGA play offs in New Jersey
PHOTO: Hopeful swing ... Adam Scott is edging up the leaderboard at the US PGA playoffs in New Jersey. (Getty Images: Jeff Gross)
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Australian Adam Scott has surged into contention in the US PGA tour playoffs, climbing to within three shots of the lead after round two at the first event in New Jersey.

Masters champion Scott carded a 66 round to rise 29 places up the leaderboard into a share of fourth on seven-under 135 behind leader Matt Kuchar.

Kucher edged past clubhouse leaders Webb Simpson and Gary Woodland, firing five birdies and no bogeys through 13 holes to finish on 10-under-par for the tournament when play was suspended.

He will return tonight to try to seal the 36-hole lead.

Australian Jason Day however could not repeat his fine form of the opening round, carding three bogeys and one birdie through 16 holes to sit seven shots off the pace with compatriot Matt Jones.

Scott, Rickie Fowler and Keegan Bradley were all on seven-under, while England's Justin Rose, the reigning US Open champion, was also at seven-under through 14 holes.

Fowler set a Liberty National Golf Club course record with a 64, only for Bradley to break it with a 63 - all before Woodland completed his own 64.

Scott, who has not won since capturing his first major title at Augusta National in April, was happy to put in a long day.

He played 12 holes of his first round before completing his second.

"I'm pretty happy with today's effort," Scott said.

"When we went out this morning, the wind was up, and the course played a lot tougher than the few holes I played yesterday."

Nevertheless, he had an eagle, a birdie and one bogey over his 12 holes to conclude the first round and added five birdies and another eagle in the second.

"Playing 30 holes in a day is good - if you're playing well," Scott said.

Simpson, Woodland soar as Woods dives

Former US Open champion Simpson also made a marathon day look easy, firing a second-round 66 to take the early clubhouse lead on nine-under 133.

He was joined late in the day by Woodland, who notched a sparkling 64 that included eight birdies and a bogey.

Simpson and Woodland were two strokes clear of their nearest rivals in the clubhouse.

Among those who were unable to finish, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy had seven birdies and two bogeys through 16 holes to stand at five-under for the tournament and world
number one Tiger Woods was one-under for the day and five-under for the tournament through 13 holes.

The top 125 players in the standings qualified for this week's field.

Only 100 will go on to the championships in Boston.

Seventy will then play the championships in Chicago, with the top 30 on the points list qualifying for the Tour Championship in Atlanta.

The player topping the standings after the four events wins a $10 million playoff bonus.