Tommy Fleetwood has once again positioned himself at the top of the leaderboard during a critical event, as he continues his pursuit of his elusive first PGA Tour victory. After firing an impressive second-round score of 63, Fleetwood has reached a total of 13 under par, joining Russell Henley at the midway point of the Tour Championship.
This season has seen Fleetwood come painfully close to victory on multiple occasions, adding to his growing list of near misses throughout his career. However, he remains undeterred, showcasing some of his finest golf to date. Following a solid opening round of 64, Fleetwood's Friday performance featured remarkable ball-striking and putting, placing him second in strokes gained in both categories for the week.
Most of Fleetwood's impressive play occurred on the back nine at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. He made six birdies and only one bogey on this part of the course, significantly boosting his position on the leaderboard. Notably, he finished his round with back-to-back birdies on the 17th and 18th holes, a crucial achievement for Fleetwood, who has struggled with closing out rounds in the past. Just two weeks ago at the St. Jude Championship, he bogeyed the 18th during the middle rounds, an error that cost him dearly as he lost the tournament by just one shot.
At East Lake, Fleetwood has already birdied the par-5 18th twice, which may indicate a turning point for him as he aims to carry this momentum into Sunday and secure his first PGA Tour win. Despite falling short at both the Travelers Championship and the St. Jude Championship earlier this year, Fleetwood has responded positively to these setbacks. He consistently emphasizes the importance of putting himself in contention, stating that the feeling of competing at the highest level is unmatched and is a driving force behind his passion for the game.
As he heads into the final rounds, Fleetwood will again find himself under pressure, likely among the last pairings on Sunday. To succeed, he must maintain his low scoring as soft conditions at East Lake are anticipated to continue throughout the weekend. The recent rainfall in Atlanta has allowed players to take advantage of the softer greens, making it easier to attack the pins.
Fleetwood will be joined in the final pairing by Henley, who started the tournament strong but faced challenges in his second round. After opening with a remarkable 61, Henley struggled initially but managed to finish with two birdies on the back nine, allowing him to stay tied for the lead with Fleetwood at 13 under.
Close on their heels is Cameron Young, who delivered the low round of the day with a stellar 62, bringing his total to 11 under. Young has been in phenomenal form during the second half of the season, recently claiming his first career win at the Wyndham Championship. His improvement on the greens has significantly contributed to this success, and he currently ranks fifth in putting while leading in strokes gained on approach. Young's impressive back nine of 29 on Friday has positioned him as a formidable contender.
In a surprising turn of events, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler finds himself trailing after a lackluster performance in round two. Entering the round in second place, Scheffler struggled throughout the day, missing crucial putts and hitting errant shots off the tee. He managed to finish with a score of 1-under 69, leaving him at 8 under and five shots off the lead as he heads into the weekend.
The leaders are as follows:
Tommy Fleetwood, Russell Henley (-13)Fleetwood's recent play could arguably position him as one of the top players in the world over the last few months, particularly in the first 54 holes of tournaments. However, his Sunday performances have raised concerns, as he has faltered in key moments despite holding leads. Henley, while less consistent, has a strong history at East Lake, making him a worthy competitor.
Contenders include:
Cameron Young (-11) T4. Patrick Cantlay, Robert MacIntyre (-10) 6. Scottie Scheffler (-8) T7. Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Shane Lowry, Chris Gotterup, Sam Burns, Ben Griffin, Akshay Bhatia (-7)The gap between the top five players and the rest of the field is substantial, making it difficult for those in lower positions to catch up. Nonetheless, the group vying for the title remains highly talented, featuring some of the best golfers in the world, each capable of making a significant move on the leaderboard.
As the weekend unfolds, the focus will be on Fleetwood and Henley, with Young also looking to capitalize on his momentum. Despite the pressure, Fleetwood's strong play and positive outlook could finally lead him to his first PGA Tour victory—a win that would carry not only prestige but also a substantial financial reward.
While it would be a significant milestone for Fleetwood to secure his first win at the Tour Championship, many analysts view Young as the best value bet at 8-1. His consistency with ball-striking and putting, combined with favorable conditions expected to persist, positions him as a serious contender for the $10 million top prize this week.
