Reed builds two-shot lead at Barclays

Spieth four back, shoots 67 despite double bogey.

Patrick Reed had a fast start and hung on against tough Bethpage Black for a 3-under 68 and a two-shot lead in The Barclays. His spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team is looking better with each round, and so are his prospects for getting his first victory of the year. He sandwiched a birdie around two bogeys at the end to keep his distance over Emiliano Grillo and Rickie Fowler, who each shot 69.

Fowler, who likely needs to finish third to have any chance of making the U.S. team as an automatic qual- ifier, played bogey-free on Friday and has dropped only one shot over the opening two rounds. Jordan Spieth overcame a double bogey to start his round with a 67. He was four shots back.

Meantime, Spieth was no match for the National Spelling Bee co-champion — with spelling and, ultimately, with putting. Jairam Hathwar revealed after sharing the Spelling Bee title in May that he loved golf and that Spieth was his favorite player. Spieth invited the 13-year-old to The Barclays this week and his corporate sponsor, AT&T, arranged for a spelling contest on the green.

For each word they spelled correctly, they could move the ball closer to the hole. For each spelled wrong, they moved farther away. Hathwar got all three of his and Spieth missed all three. The teen made his short putt. Spieth missed from longer range.

“You won the challenge,” Spieth told him. “Shocker, I know.”