Big names struggle as Villegas takes lead

Norton, Massachusetts:

Camilo Villegas shot a career-low 63 at the Deutsche Bank Championship to take a two-stroke lead on Friday, while Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Vijay were a combined 3 over par and delivered some memorable moments they would rather forget.

Mickelson twice searched the forest along the ninth hole, trying to find his golf ball. He wound up with a triple bogey that spoiled an otherwise solid round of 70.

Woods took three shots to get out of the bunker on the 298-yard fourth hole and made double bogey. He spent the rest of the sunny afternoon on the TPC of Boston trying to get back to even par, missing four birdie putts inside 10 feet and settling for a 1-over 72.

Singh set the tone for the threesome by four-putting from 15 feet on the opening hole. He shot 74. It was the second straight week in the U.S. PGA Tour Playoffs that Singh had a four-putt double bogey.

Villegas had a bogey-free round that closed with a pair of birdies.

He had a two-shot lead over former US Masters champion Mike Weir and Ryan Moore, while Barclays winner Steve Stricker continued his solid play with a 67 that helped his chances of staying atop the playoff standings.

The Deutsche Bank is most critical for Weir, who needs to finish at least fifth to have any chance of getting to the BMW Championship next week. Otherwise, it's three weeks off before playing the Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal.

Weir started his round by holing a bunker shot for birdie, and he finished it by hitting into the swamp short of the par-5 18th green and getting up-and-down for par and his lowest round of the year.