The closer Rory McIlroy got to the greens, the more his trouble started on day two of the PGA Tour’s Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
Despite being a three-time course winner, the world number two ranked among the lowest in the 30-man FedEx Cup finale field in Strokes Gained: Putting and Strokes Gained: Around The Green, and after a one-under 69 in round two he’s tied for 23rd at seven shots off the lead.
Having opened with a two-under 68, McIlroy birdied the first in round two and as the 25-footer found the bottom of the cup, a trademark charge up the leaderboard appeared to be in offing.
But two failed attempts to chip onto the par-4 third green resulted in a double bogey-six and he dropped another at the next to fall two-over on his round.
He tidied things up a bit, making birdies on six, 12, 16 and 18, but another dropped shot on 13 meant it all added up to 69 and if he’s to win a fourth FedEx Cup title, he’ll have to make a big move up the leaderboard on Saturday.
That’s because it’s heavily populated at the top. Gerard and Hovland lead at 10-under, with Collin Morikawa and Chris Gotterup in hot pursuit and one shot back.
Hovland started the day with a share of the lead and backed up his six-under opening round with a four-under 66, while Gerard went one better with a 65.
World number one Scottie Scheffler is tied for fourth alongside Cameron Young. Young had begun the day at level-par and rooted to the foot of the leaderboard, but a change in putter brought about a change in fortune and he shot a 62 – the low round of the day – to charge into contention.
“My level of frustration has been pretty high for four or five weeks,” Young said. “I have played okay and putted poorly and finished in positions that I feel like are unacceptable, to be brutally honest.”
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