PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida, May 11, 2012 (AFP) - Johnson fired a six-under par 66 to share the lead with US PGA Tour rookie Kevin Na and Matt Kuchar on eight-under par 136 after two rounds of the $9.5 million event at TPC Sawgrass.
Woods, a 14-time major champion chasing the record 18 major titles won by Jack Nicklaus, avoided what would have been the first back-to-back missed cuts of his pro career by firing a 68 to stand on two-under 142.
"I probably could have gotten one or two more out of it but I really played well," Woods said. "I was just very consistent, nothing spectacular, just real solid golf."
Woods sank four birdies in a row starting at the par-3 eighth, including birdies at the par-5 ninth and 11th holes, to finish in a share of 30th among 72 players who made the cut on level par 144.
"I'm still with a good chance," Woods said. "I was trying to just keep plugging along. I ended up making four in a row."
Missing for the weekend will be Northern Ireland star McIlroy, who defends his US Open crown next month at San Francisco.
Last week, McIlroy lost in a playoff at Quail Hollow. This week, McIlroy opened with a 72, then followed with a 76 to miss the cut for the first time in more than a year.
McIlroy has missed the cut in all three of his Players starts.
"I just need to try and get the hang of this golf course somehow. I just find it pretty difficult," McIlroy said. "You have really got to position your ball in the fairway to give yourself at least a chance to get to some of these pins. I just didn't do that over the last couple of days.
"Hopefully, I'm coming back here for another 20 years. If I don't figure it out on my 20th go, there's something wrong."
Johnson birdied three of the first four holes, took a bogey at the par-4 seventh, then opened the back nine with four birdies in the first five holes. He added a birdie at the par-5 16th but closed with a bogey.
"It was pretty solid," Johnson said. "I got off to a good start, which certainly kind of gives you a little bit of confidence, little bit of momentum, especially with my putter.
"I never really gave the golf course much. I kept it where you need to keep it. I was aggressive when I could be aggressive. And I caught a couple nice saves in there, too," he added.
"But when you shoot that kind of score around this golf course any day in the year, or any week, you're putting well."
Na had seven birdies and four bogeys in a roller-coaster round of 69.
"I got off to a poor start but I bounced back nicely," Na said. "I'm playing very well, rolling it great. I think the key for me is going to be the driver, putting it in the fairway."
Kuchar had a more consistent 68 with back-to-back birdies on the front and back nines.
"It's fun to be back in position with a chance to win again," he said.
American Harris English was fourth on 137 with Scotsman Martin Laird, South Korean Charlie Wi, Australian Adam Scott, American Jonathan Byrd and England's Brian Davis sharing fifth on 138.
Laird suffered the greatest heartache, reaching 10-under par before a bogey-double bogey-bogey finish on the last three holes. He found water at the 16th and 17th.
"I'm glad it happened on a Friday and not on Sunday," Laird said after a 73.
"I've just got to take out of it that I played the last three in four-over par and I'm still third. So I'm obviously playing some pretty good golf."
Leading scores on Friday after the second round of the $9.5 million US PGA Players Championship: (USA unless noted, par-72):
136 - Zach Johnson 70-66, Kevin Na 67-69, Matt Kuchar 68-68
137 - Harris English 70-67
138 - Charlie Wi (KOR) 71-67, Martin Laird (GBR) 65-73, Jonathan Byrd 68-70, Adam Scott (AUS) 68-70, Brian Davis (GBR) 68-70
139 - Kevin Stadler 68-71, Ben Curtis 68-71, Bill Haas 68-71, Blake Adams 66-73, Michael Thompson 68-71
140 - Brendon de Jonge (ZIM) 69-71, Kevin Streelman 72-68
141 - Jimmy Walker 71-70, Bo Van Pelt 71-70, Luke Donald (GBR) 72-69, Lee Westwood (GBR) 71-70, John Huh 75-66, Ryan Moore 69-72, Brian Harman 73-68, Tom Gillis 70-71, Tim Clark (RSA) 71-70, Nick Watney 70-71, Ian Poulter (GBR) 65-76, Rickie Fowler 72-69, Jeff Maggert 70-71