ST. LOUIS — Jim Furyk quietly pumped his fist when his final putt of a marathon day disappeared in the cup. Even though it was for bogey, this was cause for a small celebration yesterday at the BMW Championship.

He played 36 holes over 10 hours on a soggy course that made it feel as though he were walking through sand. He took only 128 shots, including an 8-under 62 in the second round to set the course record at Bellerive. He hit 24 consecutive fairways, a streak that ended in the twilight on the 18th hole as focus wavered and he made bogey.

Above all, he gave himself a chance to win.

"My goal was to get myself into position to win the golf tournament," Furyk said. "And I did that."

The best part was that he finished, shooting 66 in the afternoon to complete 54 holes at 12-under 198 for the clubhouse lead. Camilo Villegas, who led by one shot after 36 holes with a 66 in the morning, also was at 12 under and had five holes remaining.

Villegas will be among 23 players who have to return this morning to complete the third round in a tournament twice interrupted by weather.