Tiger Woods has boosted his chances of earning a US Ryder Cup (US 13/8, Europe 8/13 to win) wildcard place after hitting an excellent 65 to move five-under and seven shots off the lead at the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston.

The American played one of the best rounds of what has been a difficult year following the break up of his marriage and, although he has plenty of work to do to secure a place on the US team for Celtic Manor, he did his chances of making it no harm at all with his fine performance.

Afterwards, Woods said: “I figure if I play two good rounds and win the tournament, I should be all right.

“I’m still learning to put this thing together. I’m going to have off days.”

American Brandt Snedeker (10/1 to win outright) and Australian Jason Day (9/2) lead the way in Boston, level on 12-under-par, while Englishman Luke Donald is two shots off the pace at -10 and American Phil Mickelson sits a further two back on -8.

Meanwhile, Padraig Harrington has said he will add a European tour date to his schedule after missing the cut by one stroke.

The Irishman finished level par after a second-round 68 and he intends to play again soon to keep him in the mind of European Ryder Cup skipper Colin Montgomerie.

“As much as I’d like a break, I still want to be competitive going into the Ryder Cup,” he said.

“I’ll definitely play before now and the Ryder Cup. What are the three [European tournaments]? I don’t even know, I’ll have to have a look.”

The three European Tour events Harrington will no doubt now know before the Ryder Cup are the Dutch Open, Austrian Open and Vivendi Cup in Paris.