Tyrrell Hatton shot a 6-under 65 to move into a share of the lead at the Wells Fargo Championship, but there is a group of major champions lurking that includes Adam Scott.

The Australian's second-round 68 left him just one behind co-leaders Hatton, Nate Lashley (66) and Wyndham Clark at Quail Hollow - all at 8-under 134.

Scott, the 2013 Masters winner, is joined by a group of five, including two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas, Xander Schauffele and Sungjae Im.

Hatton, who has one PGA Tour victory and six more on the European Tour, played the final four holes in 4 under.

Defending champion Max Homa moved into contention. He shot 67 and was three shots back.

With 28 players within four shots of the lead, Schauffele called the tournament "anyone's game."

"They say the cream rises to the top and the harder the property ... the better players typically rise," Schauffele said. "So, I mean, I think it's just these fields are really good now."

Scott agreed.

"I think it's great," said the former world No.1 who is looking for his first top-10 finish in his ninth start of the season.

"I think they have been exciting events, stacked fields. I certainly have had the sense in the players' lounge or the locker room it's like major championship golf.

"You look around and every big name is here. I think it's been fantastic so far."

Hatton began his round on the back nine and his strong closing stretch included a 26-foot eagle putt on the par-5 seventh hole. The Englishman made three putts of 25 feet or more on his last four holes.

"They're not the type of putts that you hole consistently, so to finish the round that way, I'm obviously very pleased with that," Hatton said. "Nice to see some putts go in."

Rory McIlroy, who won at Quail Hollow in 2010, 2015 and 2021, shot 73 and escaped with an impressive par on the par-4 18th to make the cut on the number.

His tee shot on 18 nearly rolled into the stream along the left side of the fairway. Facing an uneven lie with the ball well above his feet, McIlroy changed clubs multiple times before settling in and finding the front of the green with his approach shot. He two-putted from 75 feet.

While a seven-shot deficit seems a lot to overcome, it was McIlroy who shot 61 on Saturday in 2015 on the way to victory.

Thomas, who won the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow in 2017 and helped lead the United States to a win at the Presidents Cup here last year, shot 67 to get himself in the mix.

"I know how to get around the course pretty well," Thomas said. "I think it's obviously different but kind of similar to Augusta National. I feel like if I'm not hitting it well, there's always a spot I like I can kind of get it to."

Australian Harrison Endycott followed his 74 with a brilliant 66 to move to two under while Cam Davis had a 70 to go with his opening 71 to be at one under.

Among the notable players to miss the one-under cut were former world No.1 Jason Day (72, 70 - even par), 14th-ranked Collin Morikawa, who shot back-to-back 73s, and Jordan Spieth who had a 77 on Friday.