![\"Viktor](\"https:\/\/manilatimes.net\/manilatimes\/uploads\/images\/2026\/08\/29\/1194955.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLOS ANGELES \u2014 Norway\u2019s ViktorHovlandand American Ryan Gerard led a crowded field chasing the PGA Tour Championship\u2019s $10 million top prize Friday (Saturday in Manila) at the final event of the FedEx Cup playoffs.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n Viktor Hovland of Norway plays a shot on the eighth hole during the second round of the Tour Championship 2026 at East Lake Golf Club on Aug. 28, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.
\nAFP PHOTO\n <\/p>\n
Gerard, who has one PGA Tour victory to date and is playing in his first Tour Championship, made six birdies, including an epic 78-foot putt that rolled the length of the seventh green.<\/p>\n
He seized the clubhouse lead with a five-under-par 65, before Hovland \u2014 playing in the day\u2019s final pair \u2014 birdied the 18th hole for a 66 to share the overnight lead.<\/p>\n
The pair finished on 10-under at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia, a stroke clear of American duo Collin Morikawa and Chris Gotterup.<\/p>\n
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A further shot back were world number one Scottie Scheffler and third-ranked Cameron Young, who catapulted from rock bottom to tied-fifth with a day\u2019s best round of 62.<\/p>\n
\u201cSolid so far. Just got to keep it rolling,\u201d said Gerard, who insisted the pressure of entering the weekend in first place would not be an issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cLove playing with the lead.<\/p>\n
Way better than playing in last,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
After two early bogeys, Hovland had rolled in a 27-foot putt on the par-three 15th, and saved par on 16 despite smashing a putt from off the green 10 feet past the hole.<\/p>\n
Despite his position, the Norwegian expressed frustration that he was struggling to find the consistency that propelled him to win the 2023 Tour Championship.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt almost pisses me off more because I know that, \u2018oh, I used to be able to do that,\u2019 and now it feels a lot more difficult to do that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not so much that I\u2019m hitting those crazy wayward shots right now; it\u2019s just that I know when I\u2019m swinging it doesn\u2019t feel quite right.\u201d Min Woo Lee had entered Friday with a two-shot cushion but had a nightmare round.<\/p>\n
The Australian made triple bogey on five, needing two attempts to hack out of the rough, laying up then three-putting. He shanked his tee shot on eight into the water for bogey.<\/p>\n
His round of 73 was the second-worst of the tournament so far.<\/p>\n
Lee had scored 62 a day earlier, playing solo due to his partner JJ Spaun\u2019s withdrawal with a shoulder injury.<\/p>\n
On Friday, with 29 players remaining, it was Cameron Young\u2019s turn to play alone, and remarkably, he scored 62 too.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt seems to be a strong pattern.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a bit strange,\u201d admitted Young, who said it had felt like he was \u201cplaying a practice round.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have to wait for anybody else. Nothing weird happens.<\/p>\n
Just got in a really nice rhythm and kept going.\u201d Young made seven birdies in his first 11 holes and ended with an eagle.<\/p>\n
Scheffler had a productive if inconsistent day.<\/p>\n
The world number one recovered from back-to-back bogeys to pull within a shot of the lead, then bogeyed 17 as winds picked up to make conditions trickier in the closing stages.<\/p>\n
Rory McIlroy suffered an embarrassing double bogey, twice chipping the ball 45 feet from the uphill third green, only for the ball to roll back to his feet each time.<\/p>\n
The six-time major winner managed two late birdies for a round of 69, but sits tied for 23rd on three-under par, seven shots off the pace.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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