No.1 McIlroy charges into Deutsche Bank lead after second straight 65

(CNN) -- World number one Rory McIlroy carded a second straight six-under-par 65 Saturday to take the lead at halfway in the Deutsche Bank Championship.

The Northern Ireland star made light work of the par-71 TPC Boston course, with the highlight an eagle three on par-five 18th -- his ninth hole of the day -- as his approach nestled close to the flag to delight the galleries.

Two bogeys in his second nine, including the par-five second where he found the water, halted his progress but successive birdies put him back on track and in the lead on 12-under 130.

McIlroy wins the PGA Championship

McIlroy: 'Doesn't get better than this'

The newly crowned PGA champion had predicted a low total to win the second round of the FedEX Cup playoffs and so it has proved.

"Now that I'm in the tournament, I just want to play as well as I can and maybe reassess things going into the last day," McIlroy told the official PGA Tour website.

"But I was very happy with the two scores that I've got already and know that I need to go out and play just as good tomorrow to give myself a chance going into Monday."

McIlroy entered the week in fourth place in the FedEx Cup points list, knowing a victory will elevate him to the top of the pile with a $10 million bonus at stake at the end of the four tournaments.

Overnight leader Seung-Yul Noh of South Korea could not progress with a level par 71 to follow his nine-under par opening round of 62.

It left him in a group on 133 while former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen of South African was in second place after a 66 for 131.

Tiger Woods, who shot an opening 64, backed it up to tie fellow American Ryan Moore for third on 132.

Phil Mickelson went into the clubhouse on six-under 136, two ahead of British Open champion Ernie Els of South Africa.