* Reed and Laird fire matching 66s
* World number one Day cards a 68
* Spieth, McIlroy and Watson shoot 71 (Updates at end of opening round)
Aug 25 (Reuters) - Patrick Reed gave his Ryder Cup hopes a timely boost as he charged into a share of the first-round lead at The Barclays on Thursday with defending champion Jason Day in hot pursuit, two strokes back.
American Reed opened with a sizzling five-under-par 66 in the first of the PGA Tour's four lucrative FedExCup playoff events, finishing level with Scotland's Martin Laird on a sunny but breezy day at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York.