Woods trails by 3 after 5-under 66

Late birdie surge gives Ishikawa lead in Quicken Loans.

Ryo Ishikawa remained at the top of the leaderboard in the Quicken Loans National, but Tiger Woods shot a 5-under-par 66 in the second round Friday and was three back at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va.

Woods, the host of the PGA Tour event who is seeking his first victory in nearly two years, dropped a 36-foot birdie putt on No. 8 to highlight his day. He is tied for fifth in a group of nine players at 8 under.

The 66 was his low round relative to par this year and just his seventh score below 70.

“If I keep hitting good putts, eventually they’re going to go in,” said Woods, whose world ranking has nosedived to No. 266. “I made my share on my back nine and especially that bomb on eight. That was a bit lucky, but I’ll take it.”

Ishikawa birdied the last three holes and finished two rounds at 11-under 131. He had a one-shot lead on Kevin Chappell and Rickie Fowler, who fired a 65 after birdies on his final three holes. Chappell had a 68.

David Lingmerth, who won the Memorial in June, was alone at 9 under after a 65 that featured five birdies on his final nine holes.

Defending champion Justin Rose was tied for 19th at 5 under.

LPGA/R&A: Suzann Pettersen shot a 3-under 69 in the second round for a two-stroke lead at Women’s British Open in Turnberry, Scotland.

With a 7-under total, the 34-year-old Norwegian was the only player to shoot under 70 on a wet, blustery day.

Lydia Ko of New Zealand shot a 73 and was tied at second place with South Korean So Yeon Ryu, who shot a 72. The 18-year-old Ko is bidding to become the youngest winner of a major.

Tied at fifth at 4 under Friday were Mika Miyazato and Jin Young Ko. Michelle Wie, who slipped and fell, withdrew with a sore ankle.

Champions Tour: Local favorite Tom Lehman shot an 8-under 64 in Blaine, Minn., to open a three-stroke lead at the windy 3M Championship.

Lehman, 56, is from Alexandria and played at the University of Minnesota. He also helped Arnold Palmer design the course at TPC Twin Cities.

Scott Dunlap had seven straight birdies in his 67. Grant Waite and P.H. Horgan III also shot 67.

European Tour: Sam Walker of England and Pontus Widegren of Sweden both shot a 6-under 66 and were tied for the lead after the second round of the Madeira Islands Open. … The top-seeded player, James Morrison, and the tournament host were eliminated at the inaugural Paul Lawrie Match Play in Aberdeen, Scotland.

ROB CARR / GETTY IMAGES Tiger Woods, seeking his first victory in almost two years, watches his tee shot at the 15th hole at the Quicken Loans National in Gainesville, Va.