Paramus, NJ -- (Sports Network) - Defending champion Steve Stricker fired a seven-under 64 Friday to grab a three-stroke lead after two rounds of The Barclays.

Stricker, who won this first event of the FedEx Cup playoffs by two shots last year, completed 36 holes at Ridgewood Country Club at 10-under-par 132.

First-round leader Hunter Mahan, who like Stricker is battling to get on the U.S. Ryder Cup team, stumbled to a two-over 73 and is alone in second at minus-seven.

Former U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera carded a three-under 67 Friday and was joined in a share of third place by Dudley Hart (69) and Kenny Perry (67).

Stricker broke into red figures at the par-three third. He hit a six-iron to eight feet and drained the birdie putt. One hole later, Stricker laid up with his second at the par-five third. He then holed a sand-wedge from 70 yards for an eagle and now the defending champion was three-under through three.

At the par-four fifth, Stricker only took a three-iron off the tee. His safe play paid off when he hit a sand-wedge to five feet to set up birdie.

After five pars around the turn, Stricker played a three-wood off the tee at 11. He knocked a five-iron to 20 feet and ran home the birdie putt to reach eight-under par for the championship.

At the par-five 13th, Stricker, not one of the longest players in the world, laid up with his second. He hit a 60-degree wedge to six feet and holed it to match Mahan, who had yet to tee off in round two, in the lead at eight-under par.

Sticker hit a nine-iron to 12 feet to set up birdie at the 15th. He parred out to get in at minus-10 and into a familiar place at this tournament, although at a different venue.

"All of the good feelings that I had last year at Westchester, basically, they are there, but as far as it relates to the course, they are gone, because we are at a different venue," said Stricker. "You've just got to go around and learn this one all over again, and try to gain some good, positive feelings from what you've got here."

Like so many other players, Stricker has an eye on the Ryder Cup. When Ben Curtis surpassed him on the American points list at the PGA Championship, Stricker would have to rely on Captain Paul Azinger using one of his picks on him.

"It is what it is, and I've still got an opportunity," said Stricker. "I didn't look at it as a downer. I talked to Ben and he thought I would be mad at him and all that kind of stuff.

"I've got two tournaments going on within one. That's basically what I feel like. I think I would be a good addition, but it's hard when I'm thinking about that and when I'm trying to play golf here, too."

Mahan played the back nine first on Friday and tripped to a bogey on the 12th. He dropped in birdies at 14 and 16, but they were offset as he bogeyed 15 and 17.

The 26-year-old got back to even-par for his round with a birdie on the par- four first. That got him within one of Stricker, but Mahan dropped shots on the fifth and ninth to finish the round three back.

Sergio Garcia (67) and Paul Casey (71), who are both battling for a spot on the European Ryder Cup team, are tied for sixth at five-under-par 137. They were joined there by Kevin Streelman (70) and two-time winner this season Anthony Kim (67).

Charley Hoffman, Ryan Palmer, George McNeill and Bubba Watson are tied for 10th at minus-four.

The cut line fell at one-over-par 143 with 72 players advancing to the weekend. Among those who missed the cut were Woody Austin (144), Geoff Ogilvy (145), two-time defending British Open champion Padraig Harrington (145), former Master champ Zach Johnson (145) and Adam Scott (150), who stumbled to an 11-over 82 on Friday.

Also missing the cut and therefore not advancing in the FedEx Cup playoffs were Tom Lehman (144), Jason Gore (144), Jon Mills (144), former PGA champion David Toms (145), James Driscoll (147), Chris DiMarco (149) and Joe Durant (152).