Mickelson in command Leaderboard Day two: as it happened Woods birdies last to survive cut More photos from Baltusrol

He recorded four birdies and two bogeys to finish four behind Phil Mickelson.

"I didn't hit many bad shots and played lots of good ones. I can't think of much I wasn't pleased with," he said.

Greg Owen eagled the last hole to move to three under after a round of 69 but Colin Montgomerie, Darren Clarke and Padraig Harrington all missed the cut.

The Englishman, who started the day just one shot behind the leaders after a superb first-round 68, had slipped back to one-over after 17 following three bogeys and two birdies.

But the 33-year-old, in his first major for two years, finished in style with an eagle three on the par-five 554-yard 18th after hitting a four-iron to 22 feet.

Steve Webster, in his first-ever tournament in America, and Paul McGinley both made the cut after reaching two over following rounds of 70.

Luke Donald (73) and Ian Poulter (74) are on three over and will also play over the weekend.

A closing birdie secured Paul Casey's place in the final two rounds as he finished on the cut line at four over.

Casey's tee shot to the 212-yard ninth, his last, was only a few inches from a hole-in-one.

Welshman Stephen Dodd (71) and Englishman Nick Dougherty (72) just missed out after reaching five over at the end of their rounds.

Montgomerie produced a much-improved display to card a 71 but finished on eight over.

David Howell suffered the embarrassment of missing the ball on a tap-in putt as he went out.

The Englishman, playing his first event since tearing an abdominal muscle at the US Open in June, had no chance of making the cut.

"It's a valuable lesson, though," said Howell after a 70 for eight over par. "It's the first time I've done that.

"I went to tap it in back-handed but I'm using a shorter putter and missed."

Brian Davis also crashed out on eight over following two 74s while Graeme McDowell's 76 left him eight over and on his way home.