World number one Scottie Scheffler saw his lead in the the PGA Tour season-ending Tour Championship cut to four strokes after Collin Morikawa fired a superb 63 in Friday’s second round at East Lake.
After starting the week with a two-stroke lead at -10 due to his performances in the weeks season leading up to East Lake, and stretching that to seven as he shot an opening 65, the reigning Masters champion hasn’t so much left the door open as Morikawa has picked the lock and is hoping to steal away with the loot.
And Xander Schauffele, who shot a disappointing 70 in the opening round, is just one further adrift after carding a 64 to move to -16 and within five strokes of Scheffler.
Scheffler hasn’t always performed to the best of his abilities at East Lake, twice starting the grand finale as tournament leader and twice being overtaken, but he’s brought close to his ‘A game’ this week and made five birdies with just a single bogey which came on the 13th.
“I feel like my swing is in a good spot. I’ve hit it nice last couple days. Really felt like I’ve hit a lot of lips on the greens, but hitting a lot of quality putts,” he said.
“Today the putts that did not go in did not – a lot of them did not miss the cup by very much. A lot of quality stuff out there, and I’m in a good spot going into the weekend.”
But were it not for the handicap which saw Morikawa start six shots adrift, he’d enjoy a two-stroke advantage and is clearly the man who’s been the top performer for the week thus far. He covered his opening nine in -4, dropped a shot on 11 before bouncing back with back-to-back birdies on 13 and 14 before inclement weather forced play to be suspended for more than 90 minutes.
But he didn’t let it disrupt his rhythm, and birdied the closing two holes to add a little extra spice to the weekend.
“For me, it’s just bringing energy and just kind of staying alive out there,” he said. “I’ve got a game plan that I’ve set out, and I’m really going to stick to that, just knowing that we’ve got two more rounds left of the season.”
Such has been Scheffler’s dominance on the PGA Tour in 2024, Tiger Woods comparisons have been plentiful and many have wilted in his presence, but Morikawa rose to the occasion on Friday and thinks fighting fire with fire is the best approach.
“He’s such a good player that you just know he’s going to keep going low and making birdies. I saw that firsthand. I’ve seen it for years. For me, it’s just keep my foot on the gas,” he said.
Schauffele, the man who started the week as Scheffler’s closest challenger but could only manage a one-under opening round, was back in attack mode on Friday and went bogey-free, making six birdies before the stoppage and made an excellent par save on 17 and a closing birdie afterwards.
“It was better,” said the two-time 2024 major winner. “It was nice to finish off with two big putts. Pretty dark out, so happy those two went in. Keeps the momentum from what was a pretty good round.
“Scottie’s been killing everyone at that all year. I know he’s not going to let up, so there’s only one way to get him.”
Australian Adam Scott and Americans Sahith Theegala and Wyndham Clark are all tied in fourth place on 12-under, nine behind Scheffler, while Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry are 13 and 14 adrift respectively.
McIlroy gave himself plenty of birdie chances but his putter refused to play ball in the early stages as he reached the turn at -2 but could so easily have been -5 or -6. The birdie looks weren’t quite as good on the back nine, the sole inward birdie coming courtesy of a two-putt on the par-5 14th, with the shot given back on 16.
He’s not quite out of it, but in 10th place and 13 back, it’ll take every weapon in his arsenal if he’s to play his way back into the mix at this stage.
This is Lowry’s first appearance at East Lake, and he remains one behind McIlroy in a tie for 14th. Lowry’s day began with a double bogey on the first, but those would be his only dropped shots on the day, with birdies on two, 10, 14 and 18 helping turn the day around.
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