Australian Adam Scott and England's David Howell, eighth and 10th respectively in the world rankings, warmed up for next week's US Open by setting the pace in the Barclays Classic in New York.

Scott had an eagle and five birdies in a six-under-par 65, while Europe's leading money-winner this season, Howell, closed with three successive birdies for a 66 to be joint second with American Billy Andrade.

Just four days after completing a nightmare 83 at the Memorial tournament in Ohio, Howell had no fewer than eight birdies to ignite his hopes of a first victory in the States heading to nearby Winged Foot next week.

And it could have been even better for Howell - ranked 10th in the world - as he had a 25-foot birdie chance on the long fifth - his 14th - but three-putted for a bogey.

"I just let it slip, really, a lapse in concentration," Howell admitted.

Defending champion Padraig Harrington disappointed, however, with a three-over-par 74 that left him needing a big improvement just to survive the halfway cut.

The Dubliner, who lost a play-off to Sergio Garcia at Westchester two years ago and then last June pipped Jim Furyk to the title with a dramatic 66-foot eagle putt on the final green, had double bogeys at both the fifth and short 14th.

American Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman had earlier threatened to be the story of the day, but after reaching six under he bogeyed the same three closing holes which Howell then birdied.

Lehman, who has not ruled out playing at the K Club in September if he qualifies, could move up from 19th to sixth in the race for places in his own team with victory on Sunday.

Ulsterman Graeme McDowell, who in Surrey on Monday came through a qualifying tournament for next week's major, matched Scott's birdies at the 17th and 18th to be alongside Masters champion Phil Mickelson on one under, while Justin Rose posted a level-par 71 and twice winner Garcia a 73.

Luke Donald and Ian Poulter - another US Open qualifier - both shot 72, but Lee Westwood and last week's winner Carl Pettersson struggled with 74s.

After five successive missed cuts and failing to earn a place in the second major of the year, Westwood boosted his confidence with birdies at two of his first three holes but then slipped back to three over.