NORTON — Most of golf’s highest-profile names again remained in deep, Bulger-like seclusion amid TPC Boston’s flora and fauna Saturday, with Sergio Garcia and Jordan Spieth (each 6 under par) the only marquee names parked high on the leaderboard until late in the afternoon of Day 2 of the Deutsche Bank Championship.

But by day’s end, Dustin Johnson, world No. 2 and this year’s US Open winner, finally muscled his way closer to the thick of things, hard on the heels of tournament leader Kevin Chappell, another of the relative unknowns who’ve thus far commanded the spotlight in the $8.5 million tournament.

Johnson, in fact, was within a stroke of knotting Chappell at 11 under as he teed off on No. 18. But with a share of the lead all but in his grasp, Johnson carded an ugly double-bogey 7, leaving him 5 under for the day and tied for fifth overall, three strokes behind Chappell.

Chappell, a 30-year-old UCLA grad, posted a 7-under 64 to push his two-day total to minus-11 and leave him poised possibly to score his first Tour victory in his six years on the road. He and Jimmy Walker (T2 with Paul Casey) turned in the day’s low score (64).

Though never a winner, Chappell has been close to picking off a title repeatedly this season, three times finishing runner-up (RSM Classic, Arnold Palmer Invitational, Players Championship).

“I know it’s going to be a long weekend,’’ said Chappell, whose low-hitting game could help him here if the winds begin to whip as expected Sunday and Monday. “I’ve learned you have to be patient. The next 36 holes are going to seem like a long time for me. But I feel comfortable in this situation and each time I get near the lead I feel more comfortable.

“The more I’m smiling, the more I’m having fun, the better I’m playing.’’

Otherwise, the majority of the names high on the leaderboard comprised a brotherhood of the lesser knowns, including the respectable likes of Casey and Walker at 10 under. Brian Harman was fourth at 9 under, followed by Johnson and wide-eyed rookie Smylie Kaufman at minus-8.

For his part, the affable Casey couldn’t explain why the scoring was so tight, with only five shots separating the top 22 players on the board.

“I can’t make something up,’’ kidded Casey, the affable Brit, later adding, “I am looking at the [top] end of the leaderboard. I don’t care what’s going on [lower on the board]. When I am down there, I care about it. But I don’t care this week.’’

Harman, a five-year PGA Tour veteran, and Kaufman, 24, charged their way temporarily to the top much earlier in the day in a tourney that will continue Sunday, amid ominous forecasts that play on Monday could be blown out to sea because of Tropical Storm Hermine.

Harman, a University of Georgia grad with a little more than $7 million in career earnings, posted a 65 and moved into the top spot at 9 under. Kaufman ended up one stroke back after a blistering start that saw him collect four birdies and an eagle over his first five holes, which briefly had him sitting No. 1 at 10 under.

All in all, it continued the trend established during Round 1 on Friday when the unheralded Ryan Moore and James Hahn shared the lead at 6 under. Moore took another stroke off on Saturday, dropping to T4 at 7 under, while Hahn mashed around with a frustrating 3 over and drifted back in the pack to minus-3 overall.

Garcia, ranked world No. 12, matched his Friday 3-under 68 with a 68 in Round 2. Spieth, trailing only Jason Day and Johnson in world rankings, did the same. Each of them only three strokes off the lead, it’s possible they’ll take command of the board now that it’s money time and chase the tourney’s $1.53 million top prize.

“I missed some good chances yesterday and today,’’ said Garcia, who despite only two Tour wins the last five years has some $43.5 million in career earnings. “But I am happy with where I am.’’

“It’s close to all clicking,’’ added Spieth.

For two days, no one in the field (originally 97 total) pulled away with a mesmerizingly low number.

“I am amazed,’’ said Spieth, soon after completing his loop, “there hasn’t been an 8-under round . . . from anyone who just gets hot with the putter.’’

But it was a local, Jon Curran, who nearly filled the bill. The former Hopkinton High star, who followed classmate Keegan Bradley to the Tour, made a dramatic turnaround after posting a disappointing 4 over on Round 1. Late in the second round, Curran was minus-8 (potentially the best round of the day), but he fired three bogeys over the final four holes to pull back to 66 for the day.

“I played really well on the back, made a few putts,’’ said Curran, who admitted that he felt the jitters on Friday when surrounded by friends and family. “I really just played a solid round of golf . . . a little nervous coming in, but that is kind of what the game does to you.

“I had a lot of distractions [on Friday], which is great, but it’s also new to me. It didn’t go my way, but today was good.’’

Curran, in peril of missing the cut after Friday’s play, just made it over the line (1 under). Underscoring how hard the first two days were for many of the big names: Day just made the cut with his 70-71 for 1 under, alongside Curran.

Bubba Watson (1 over) missed the cut, as did prior DBC winner Vijay Singh (3 over) and Phil Mickelson (5 over).

Kevin Paul Dupont can be reached at kevin.dupont@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeKPD.