North Carolina-based Swede Carl Pettersson smashed the course record to open a three-shot lead over American Garrett Willis after the second round at the Wyndham Championship on Friday.

The dual PGA Tour winner took advantage of perfect morning conditions to plunder 11 birdies in a spectacular nine-under-par 61 at Sedgefield, a performance that will have caught the eye of European Ryder Cup captain Nick Faldo.

Pettersson posted a 15-under 125 halfway total, matching the record lowest numeral score for the first 36 holes in a PGA Tour event.

"I got off to such a good start," said Pettersson, who went to high school in Greensboro after his Volvo executive father was posted in the city by his company.

"I'm thrilled with the way I'm playing but you can't relax until Sunday night."

After going eight-under for the day through 14 holes, Pettersson briefly pondered the possibility of shooting 59, only to promptly bogey the par-five 15th after taking four shots to hole out from off the back of the green.

"I could have played a safe pitch out (third shot) to about 15 feet, but I had momentum with me and it wasn't that hard a shot," he said after lowering the course record by two shots.

"I chunked it in the bunker and then didn't get up and down, but it was nice to come back with birdies on 16 and 17 to end the round on a good note."

Pettersson's score matched the lowest of his PGA Tour career, his other 61 coming on the Palm course at Disney World, a par-72 layout that the pros routinely take apart at the tour's annual autumn stop.

A lowly 17th on the European Ryder Cup world points list, with less than three weeks before the team is picked for next month's event, he played down his chances of making the side.

"I was close last time and I kept looking at (the rankings), so I'm trying to forget about it," he said.

"I would love to play in it but I'm just trying to play well here and if I play well it will take care of itself. It's not like I've done anything spectacular."

Willis, meanwhile, carded a second straight 64 to vault into second place.

"I was glad Carl ran out of holes," said Willis, who won in Tucson in 2001, but has not cracked the top 125 on the tour money list since.

"Every time I made a birdie it seemed like he made one too, and I couldn't get a full head of steam."

Fellow American Scott McCarron was in third place, four strokes from the lead.

The cut fell at three-under 137, with Vijay Singh, the world's highest ranked player in the field, one of those bowing out.