Tour Championship: Viktor Hovland, Collin Morikawa share midway lead in FedExCup season finale

Scottie Scheffler heads into the weekend two again and Keegan Bradley is three behind, with Jon Rahm sharing fourth spot with Xander Schauffele; Rory McIlroy is six again as he chases successive FedExCup titles; Watch the Tour Championship dwell on Saturday from 6pm on Sky Sports activities Golf

Viktor Hovland produced a back-nine birdie burst to share the midway lead with Collin Morikawa on the PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship.

Hovland, beginning the week second within the standings after Sunday’s beautiful BMW Championship victory, made 5 birdies in a six-hole stretch on his strategy to a superb second-round 64 at East Lake Golf Membership.

The Norweigan set the clubhouse goal at 16 below, earlier than Morikawa joined him by following his opening-round 61 by signing off a bogey-free 64 with back-to-back birdies to proceed his blemish-free begin to the event.

Collin Morikawa birdied his ultimate two holes and is the one participant bogey-free after 36 holes

Scheffler sits in third place after a bogey-free 65 and Keegan Bradley is in fourth spot on 14 below, whereas Xander Schauffele lies an additional stroke again alongside Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy heads into the weekend six off the lead.

Stars proceed to impress at East Lake

Scheffler – taking part in within the penultimate group – birdied the primary to quickly make it a four-way tie on the prime, just for Morikawa edge again forward after following his opening-round 61 by beginning with a birdie.

Scottie Scheffler will exit within the penultimate group once more on Saturday

Hovland opened with three straight pars and holed from 10 toes on the fourth to match the birdie of Scheffler, with each gamers profiting from the par-five sixth to maneuver to 12 below.

Morikawa additionally birdied the sixth and added one other from 12 toes on the eighth to succeed in the flip one forward of Scheffler, with Hovland an additional shot again after failing to stand up and down from off the inexperienced to save lots of par on the seventh.

Scheffler pulled degree with a birdie on the twelfth, the place Hovland additionally picked up a shot to begin his birdie burst, whereas Morikawa missed from inside 4 toes on the earlier gap for the possibility to revive his one-shot benefit.

Morikawa responded by birdieing the twelfth to reclaim prime spot, just for Hovland to transform from 10 toes on the thirteenth and match Scheffler’s birdie on the subsequent to make it a three-way tie at prime on 14 below.

Viktor Hovland combined seven birdies with a lone bogey in his second spherical

Hovland made a fourth straight birdie on the fifteenth and added one other on the seventeenth to quickly double his lead, earlier than laying up on the par-five final and signing off with a par, as Morikawa adopted a birdie on the seventeenth with a two-putt acquire on the 18th to depart the pair tied on the prime.

McIlroy: “I am restricted in what I can do”

McIlroy continued to worry by again spasms throughout his second spherical, however the defending champion – trying to change into the primary back-to-back winner of the FedExCup – constructed on his opening-round 70 by carding a three-under 67 on Friday.

Rory McIlroy heads into the weekend in seventh spot

“I am restricted in what I can do, however I am right here grinding away, battling away,” McIlroy stated. “So glad to be by 36 holes. I felt like I had a bit extra pace. I used to be most likely half a membership off my numbers than possibly a full membership yesterday. However nonetheless it is simply onerous to get my proper facet by the ball.

“It really feels higher with the longer golf equipment as a result of I am extra upright in my posture. After I form of get all the way down to the shorter stuff, attempting to remain in my posture is a wrestle.”

Rory McIlroy will play alongside US Open champion Wyndham Clark on Saturday

McIlroy is ready to return to Europe after the FedExCup Playoffs and play back-to-back DP World Tour occasions, beginning on the Horizon Irish Open from September 7-10 earlier than the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth every week later. The Ryder Cup then takes place in Italy from September 29-October 1.

“I’d reasonably it [injury] pop up now than in three or 4 weeks’ time,” McIlroy added. “I’ve managed it properly and I feel I did properly to get by yesterday. I’ve obtained by one other day, so hopefully it feels a bit higher over the weekend. Not nice timing, however on the similar time, it may very well be worse!”

Who can transfer forward on the Tour Championship? Watch the PGA Tour’s season finale and the race for the FedExCup all through the week dwell on Sky Sports activities. Dwell protection continues Saturday from 6pm on Sky Sports activities Golf. Stream the PGA Tour and extra for £26 a month for 12 months with NOW.

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