Adam Scott is in charge of the BMW Championship

Adam Scott scored 63 to lead the way after two rounds at the BMW Championship in Castle Rock, Colorado.

The 44-year-old Australian, who has not won on the circuit since February 2020, is an unlikely leader of the second round of the FedEx Cup playoffs.

Scott entered the field ranked 41st in points after the FedEx St. Jude Championship last week – only the top 50 made it to Castle Pines Golf Club.

Scott is now -13 (131), three strokes ahead of Keegan Bradleythe leader of the first round that qualified for BMW with the number 50. Bradley was one hole away from victory.

Bradley came within one hole of his second straight bogey-free round, making short-game errors on the par-4 18th hole before settling for 68.

Scott shared the lowest round of the day with Swedish phenom Ludvig Aberg, whose 63 moved him into third place at 9 under par.

Alex Noren, also a Swede, shot his second consecutive 68 to move into fourth place at 8 underand Canadian Taylor Pendrith (65) was fifth at 7 under.

Scott made four birdies in the first nine holes before getting a second wind from the 12th hole. He made three birdies in a row and moved into third position.

He made three consecutive birdie putts from 11, 26 and 15 feet, and eventually howled his tee shot at the par-3 16th just 4 feet from the hole for another birdie.

The 2013 Masters champion ended his score by driving out of a bunker on the par-5 17th and making birdie.

Aberg had eight birdies, a bogey and an eagle, the last on the par-5 14th, where he howled his second shot just 2 meters from the hole.

The 24-year-old is playing in his first FedEx Cup playoffs after a successful, albeit winless, season.

Patrick Cantlay (5 under), Collin Morikawa (4 under) and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy (3 under) are some of the names hidden outside the top five.

Xander Schauffele struggled on Friday to shoot a 1-over 73 to drop to 2 under, and Scottie Scheffler par-72 to move to 1 under in two rounds. Scheffler and Schauffele occupy places 1 and 2 in the points classification.

Earlier today, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama withdrew from the tournament due to “lower back discomfort” which, he said, made it “impossible for him to play.” Matsuyama won the FedEx St. Jude Championship last week and was in second place Thursday, one behind Bradley, after opening with a 67.