GERARD AND HOVLAND SHARE HALFWAY LEAD AT TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Ryan Gerard shot a 65 and Viktor Hovland a 66 in round two of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club to share the lead at 10-under heading into the weekend.

Gerard is feeling pretty confident heading into the weekend.. “Yeah, absolutely. Love playing with the lead. Way better than playing in last. Yeah, it’s a lot like the golf course that’s I kind of grew up playing in North Carolina. Feel very comfortable with the visuals, some of the elevation change, tee shots, and the greens are the same kind of Bermuda that I putt on at home.”

“I feel really comfortable out here. Just got to keep it rolling.”

Hovland is also in confident a mood, despite a poor showing in the majors during the year….”I mean, it’s still disappointing to play that poorly in the majors, but obviously to have a chance. I I’ve already won this year, won a signature event, and in good position now to have another good look at a FedExCup trophy. So that’s kind of the focus now.”

When asked what is the key to his fairway hitting this week, Hovland replied…”Great question. Don’t even know, but I found something that seems to be going straight, so very happy with that.”,

“That’s it. That’s all I’ve got for you.”

It is going to be a birdie packed weekend as the field of 29 players hunt the Tour Title at East Lake with Colin Morikawa and Chris Gotterup tied a stroke back on 9-under, while Cameron Young shot a blistering 62 to find himself two strokes back with Scottie Scheffler on 8-under.

On the other side of the leaderboard Rory McIlroy finds himself in a tie for 23rd after rounds of 68 and 69, a birdie on the first promised of an exciting round ahead, but two failed attempts to chip onto the green at the third resulted in a double bogey, followed by a bogey on the fourth and hopes of a charge were dashed.

Photo: Viktor Hovland and Ryan Gerard. (Photo by Gerard Ruddy)