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 stay on Saturday from 6pm on Sky Sports activities Golf
By Ali Stafford
Final Up to date: 25/08/23 11:43pm
Viktor Hovland is searching for a second victory in as many weeks on the PGA Tour
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 gorgeous BMW Championship victory, made 5 birdies in a six-hole stretch on his technique to a superb second-round 64 at East Lake Golf Membership.
The Norweigan set the clubhouse goal at 16 underneath, 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 match.
-16 Viktor Hovland (Nor), Collin Morikawa (USA)
-14 Scottie Scheffler (USA)
Others: -13 Keegan Bradley (USA); -12 Jon Rahm (Esp), Xander Schauffele (USA); -10 Rory McIlroy (NIrl)
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 underneath, whereas Xander Schauffele lies an extra 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 underneath.
Morikawa additionally birdied the sixth and added one other from 12 toes on the eighth to achieve the flip one forward of Scheffler, with Hovland an extra shot again after failing to rise up and down from off the inexperienced to avoid wasting par on the seventh.
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Scheffler pulled stage with a birdie on the twelfth, the place Hovland additionally picked up a shot to start out his birdie burst, whereas Morikawa missed from inside 4 toes on the earlier gap for the prospect 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 underneath.
Viktor Hovland blended 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 achieve on the 18th to depart the pair tied on the prime.
McIlroy: “I am restricted in what I can do”
McIlroy continued to fret by again spasms throughout his second spherical, however the defending champion – trying to turn 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 completely happy to be by way of 36 holes. I felt like I had just a little extra pace. I used to be most likely half a membership off my numbers than perhaps a full membership yesterday. However nonetheless it is simply arduous to get my proper aspect by way of the ball.
“It truly 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, making an attempt 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 per week later. The Ryder Cup then takes place in Italy from September 29-October 1.
“I might moderately it [injury] pop up now than in three or 4 weeks’ time,” McIlroy added. “I’ve managed it effectively and I believe I did effectively to get by way of yesterday. I’ve received by way of one other day, so hopefully it feels a bit higher over the weekend. Not nice timing, however on the similar time, it could possibly 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 stay 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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