Summary Dustin Johnson grabbed a one-shot lead over Spieth halfway through the US PGA Tour Northern Trust.
NEW YORK (AFP) - World number two Dustin Johnson rolled in an eight-foot birdie putt at the final hole Friday to take a one-shot lead over Jordan Spieth halfway through the US PGA Tour Northern Trust.
Johnson shook off an opening bogey to card five birdies in a four-under par 67 at Liberty National in New Jersey.
His 12-under par total of 130 put him a stroke in front of Spieth -- who set the early pace with a seven-under par 64 for 131.
The second round of the tour s first FedEx Cup playoff event opened with 15-time major champion Tiger Woods withdrawing with a "mild oblique strain".
Woods, trying to end the season on a high note after ending an 11-year major title drought with his victory at the Masters in April, had struggled to a first-round 75 that left him equal 116th in the field of 120.
Woods said he remained "hopeful" that he would be able to play next week s BMW Championship at Medinah and continue his bid to make the 30-strong field to defend his Tour Championship title in the playoff finale at East Lake.
Johnson, who started the day one shot off Troy Merritt s lead, is chasing a third title in the event after winning in 2011 and 2017 -- both times at different venues.
"I feel like I m swinging it really well," Johnson said. "I ve got a lot of control with the golf ball and hitting a lot of really nice shots and rolled in a couple putts today which is nice -- but still feel like I left quite a few out there.
"I m in a good position heading into the weekend, and if I can keep swinging the way I am, I think it s going to be a good weekend."
Spieth will be hoping to keep things going through the weekend -- something he s had trouble doing this season.
Last week at the Wyndham Championship he shot two rounds in the 60s before a third-round 77 saw him miss the 54-hole cut.
"The important thing for me is not to get ahead of myself," Spieth said. "It s to just continue trying to be consistent. Historically, I m a very consistent player. I ve lost a bit of that.
"I still have that firepower, but the consistency is what I m trying to get back."
Merritt, who matched the course record with a nine-under 62 on Thursday, fell back with a one-under 70 to join a group sharing third on 132. He was joined by former Masters champion Patrick Reed, who posted his second straight 66, Spain s Jon Rahm, who carded a 68 and Mexico s Abraham Ancer, who fired a 65.
Northern Ireland star Rory McIlroy was among five players on 133 -- but not before officials rescinded a two-stroke penalty he was assessed during the round.
McIlroy was two-under for the day through 13 holes when he found a greenside bunker at 14.
Noticing what he thought was a stone nestled against his ball in the bunker McIlroy, in accordance with the new rules instituted this year, went to move the loose impediment only to find it was a clump of sand.
A rules official on the course determined he had therefore violated the rules, even though McIlroy didn t believe he had improved his lie and hadn t touched the sand on purpose.
After his round however, the penalty was rescinded and McIlroy signed for a 68 that left him just three shots off the lead.
