Mahan leads the AT&T National

A punishing golf course. Temperatures that topped 100. Hunter Mahan still managed to make Friday at Congressional feel like a breeze.

Mahan finally had a good score to match the efficient way he has been swinging the club. He made seven birdies in the stifling heat for a six-under 65, giving him a two-shot lead going into the weekend at the AT&T National in Bethesda, Md., as he goes after a PGA Tour-leading third win of the year.

Tiger Woods stayed in the game with a 68 in the morning, when it was still so hot that towels were used to wipe sweaty faces more than to clean clubs. He talked about the value of staying fit and strong to survive days like this. He was five shots behind. Mahan was at seven-under 135. Robert Garrigus had his sixth straight sub-par round at Congressional — that includes last year at the U.S. Open when he became a footnote in history as only the fourth American to break par all rounds of a U.S. Open — with a 67 and was two shots behind, along with Jimmy Walker and Brendon De Jonge, who each had a 69.

Veronica Felibert shot a career-best six-under 65 to take the first-round lead in the LPGA Tour’s NW Arkansas Championship at Rogers, Ark.

China’s Shanshan Feng, the LPGA Championship winner this month, was a stroke back.

Defending champion Fred Couples birdied the final three holes for a seven-under 63 and the second-round lead in the Senior Players Championship in Pittsburgh.

Joe Daley was a stroke back after a 64.

At Portrush, Northern Ireland, Frenchman Gregory Bourdy opened a one-shot lead in the second round of the Irish Open as Rory Mcilroy edged his way back toward the leaderboard.

Englishman Mark Foster also shot a 67 and was in second. Mcilroy climbed 29 places and into a tie for 24th at 139 with his three-under 69.