Ryan Gerard and Viktor Hovland emerged as co-leaders after two rounds of the PGA Tour’s season ending TOUR Championship, with both golfers reaching 10-under 130 heading into the weekend at East Lake Golf Club.
Gerard delivered a 5-under 65 on Friday, combining five relatively comfortable birdies with a spectacular long range birdie from just inside 80 feet. The 27-year-old from North Carolina put himself in position to contend for the $10 million first prize, but there is another major incentive weighing on his mind: the Presidents Cup.
The captain’s picks for the Presidents Cup will be announced after the TOUR Championship, and Gerard knows a strong showing this week could strengthen his case.
Hovland matched Gerard’s 36 hole total with a 66. One of his five birdies came on the difficult 15th hole, a 155 yard par 3 featuring a peninsula-style green. The hole is tucked to the left near a sharp slope that can send balls feeding away from the putting surface.
With Gerard and Hovland tied at 10-under, the leaderboard remains tightly packed. Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 player, shot a 67 and sits at 8-under, just two shots behind. Cameron Young also moved to 8-under after producing the round of the day, a stunning 8-under 62.
Collin Morikawa and Chris Gotterup each carded 67 and are one shot off the lead at 9-under 131. Young’s second round was perhaps the most dramatic of the day. After opening the tournament with a 70 that left him tied for last, Young went off Friday as a single in the 29 man field following J.J. Spaun’s withdrawal. He quickly erased any memory of his opening round.
Young made the turn in 30 and continued his charge with two more birdies, reaching 7-under through 11 holes. He briefly gave some shots back with a bunker bogey on No. 12 and failed to convert several opportunities coming down the stretch.
Then came the moment that transformed his round. On the par-5 18th, Young drained an eagle putt from approximately 40 feet, with the ball slamming into the back of the cup. The eagle completed his 62 and moved him into a tie for the lead just as the final group was beginning its round.
Young knew the scoring conditions were favorable and expected someone to pass him, but he still figured he would have been surprised to remain within two shots of the lead by the end of the day.
His relaxed approach was evident throughout the round. Playing as a single, Young described the experience as feeling almost like a practice round.
At one point, it looked more like a casual recreational round than a championship. On the 12th hole, Young removed the flagstick and placed it on the fringe while his caddie was busy raking a bunker.
Now, Young is firmly in contention for the TOUR Championship and the season ending FedEx Cup. He also remains in the conversation for PGA Tour Player of the Year following his signature victory at The Players Championship and another major win at the signature event at Doral.
Scheffler endured a difficult start Friday, making two early bogeys and briefly falling five shots behind the leaders.
The world’s No. 1 player responded exactly as expected, however, catching fire around the turn. Scheffler made five birdies over a six-hole stretch to quickly erase the deficit and put himself back into contention.
He appeared to be closing the gap even further before an approach shot on the 17th sailed over the green. The pin was positioned toward the back, and Scheffler stood over the result for an extended moment before moving on. His 67 left him at 8-under and only two shots behind the co-leaders.
The halfway point of the TOUR Championship has produced an unusually crowded leaderboard. The course has played relatively soft after rain Thursday and overcast conditions Friday, allowing players to attack East Lake.
Even with some wind arriving late Friday, low scores remained available.The result is a tournament in which roughly one-third of the field is separated by only three shots. Gerard and Hovland have the lead, but Scheffler and Young are immediately behind them, while Morikawa and Gotterup remain within striking distance.
There is also plenty at stake beyond the TOUR Championship trophy. The FedEx Cup trophy is up for grabs, along with the $10 million prize and a five-year PGA Tour exemption for the champion.
For Gerard, though, the Presidents Cup opportunity adds another layer to an already significant weekend. With 36 holes remaining, the TOUR Championship is wide open and Gerard, Hovland, Scheffler, Young and the rest of the contenders have plenty to play for.
