TIMONIUM, Md. — If Tom Watson was looking for a sign that luck was on his side at the Senior Players Championship, he got it on the 13th hole at the Baltimore Country Club.

Seeking his second birdie on what would turn out to be a bogey-free round yesterday, Watson let loose a 50-foot downhill putt.

Thunk!

Bottom of the cup.

"I was just trying to get close, cozy it down there, and it went in the hole," he said. "It was a nice surprise."

Watson shot a 3-under 68 on a windy day for a 6-under 134 at the midway point of the fifth major on the Champions Tour. Seeking his first win of the year, Watson leads four players by two strokes.

Craig Stadler shot a 65 for a 136, tied with Bob Tway (68), Jay Haas (70) and Mark Wiebe (67).

Bernhard Langer sank six birdies for a 65 to come in at 137, along with Loren Roberts (67) and John Cook (68).

Lonnie Nielsen, who started the day with a one-shot lead over Watson and Haas, was done in by a double-bogey on the 452-yard, par-4 13th hole and finished with a 73.

"I drove the ball very well. That makes it a lot easier when you're driving the ball in the fairway," Watson said. "The rough is not for old folks like me. It's hard to get out of it."

PGA TOUR

Turning Stone Resort Championship: Vaughn Taylor shot his second straight 5-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead over three players after another cold, wet and somewhat windy day at the Turning Stone Resort Championship in Verona, N.Y.

Matt Kuchar (68), rookie Leif Olson (69) and Nicholas Thompson (67), whose 14-year-old sister, Alexis, was tied for the second-round lead at the Navistar LPGA Classic in Alabama, were tied for second on the Atunyote Golf Club course.

EUROPEAN PGA TOUR

Alfred Dunhill Links Championship: Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy birdied the last two holes on the Old Course at St. Andrews for a 7-under 65 and a share of the second-round lead in the Dunhill Links Championship at St. Andrews, Scotland.

Set to play Kingsbarns today before returning to the Old Course tomorrow, McIlroy was at 11-under 133 along with countryman Michael Hoey and Scotland's Richie Ramsay. Ramsay shot a 66 at the Old Course, while Hoey had a 66 at Carnoustie.