CHARLOTTE, North Carolina, May 4, 2012 (AFP) - On a day when 14-time major champion Tiger Woods missed the cut for just the eighth time in his pro career, Watney was going in the other direction -- up.
It was a marked change of fortune for Watney, who hadn't broken 70 in his previous nine rounds and hadn't managed a top-10 finish in nine stroke-play events.
"I think last week was a wake-up call for me," Watney said of missing the cut at New Orleans.
"And I've worked really hard these five days leading into this event. I think it just shows I'm making progress," added Watney, whose round included seven birdies and an eagle at the par-five 15th.
"Who knows what's going to happen this weekend, but I'm really excited for it. More hard work, and hopefully I'll be in this position a lot more."
Watney had a 12-under total of 132 and was one stroke in front of fellow American Webb Simpson, who had five birdies in a four-under 68 for 133.
Simpson played alongside Woods, who was erratic off the tee and struggled on the greens en route to a one-over 73 for even-par 144.
"If he holed putts, he'd be in contention," said Australian Geoff Ogilvy, who played with Woods and Simpson.
One of Woods's misses was a four-footer for birdie at the eighth, his penultimate hole of the day. He rolled it three feet past the pin.
Woods got one break, when he was given a free drop at the par-five fifth after officials determined a fan walked off with his ball.
The break did Woods little good, however. He was equal 85th when he walked off the course and outside the top-70 and ties that made the cut at one-under 143.
"Well, it's frustration," Woods said. "I finished, what, 12 back of the lead, and I'm not playing the weekend where I have a chance to compete for a title."
Stewart Cink, seeking his first victory since his British Open triumph at Turnberry in 2009, carded a 69 and was tied with Ben Crane, DA Points and Aussie John Senden on 134.
Crane carded a 64, while Points and Senden both shot 68.
American Ryan Moore was alone on 135 after a 70, which included a penalty stroke after his ball moved as he prepared for a tap-in.
Leading second-round scores here on Friday from the $6.5 million US PGA Tour Wells Fargo Championship (USA unless noted, par-72):
132 - Nick Watney 68-64
133 - Webb Simpson 65-68
134 - Stewart Cink 65-69, Ben Crane 70-64, DA Points 66-68, John Senden (AUS) 66-68
135 - Ryan Moore 65-70
136 - Hunter Haas 68-68, Heath Slocum 69-67
137 - Arjun Atwal (IND) 68-69, Rocco Mediate 68-69, Johnson Wagner 71-66
138 - Robert Karlsson (SWE) 71-67, George McNeill 70-68, Rory McIlroy (NIR) 70-68, John Merrick 70-68, Rickie Fowler 66-72, Jonathan Byrd 69-69, Billy Mayfair 67-71, Sang-Moon Bae (KOR) 69-69, Seung-Yul Noh (KOR) 68-70, Martin Flores 68-70
139 - Jeff Overton 68-71, David Toms 74-65, Richard H. Lee 70-69, Ben Curtis 69-70
140 - Spencer Levin 72-68, Jason Day (AUS) 70-70, Roberto Castro 68-72, Tommy Gainey 68-72, Brian Davis (ENG) 66-74, Brendon de Jonge (ZIM) 67-73, Patrick Reed 66-74