American Jim Furyk stormed to the lead at the halfway mark of the Tour Championship, while Adam Scott&aposs hopes faded badly on Friday. Furyk was on track for a record score with seven birdies in his first 10 holes, but late bogeys saw him card a six-under-par round of 64 the lowest score at the East Lake Golf Club so far. Furyk, who hasn&apost won on the PGA Tour in two years, will head into the weekend at seven under and a one-shot lead over Englishman Justin Rose. “It was obviously a fun day,” Furyk said. “To be able to write three on your card nine times in the first 11 holes was a lot of fun. “I struggled to kind of keep that momentum going the last six holes, but I feel like I played a real solid round of golf.” Scott, who was just two shots off the lead after the opening round, could only manage one birdie and four bogeys as he dropped down to a tie for 22nd place at one over. Compatriot John Senden enjoyed a better day with his 68 moving up to 16th place at even par, although still seven shots adrift of Furyk. Joint overnight leader Rose carded a solid 68 to be outright second at six under with Bubba Watson and Bo Van Pelt a further shot back. Dustin Johnson and Matt Kuchar round out the top five at four under, while world number one Rory McIlroy remains best placed to win the FedEx Cup and the $10 million bonus after shooting a 68 to be tied for seventh. The Northern Irishman, who is coming off back-to-back tournament victories, could be faced with a dilemma whether to chase another win or preserve his lead in the standings. Any of the top five players McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Nick Watney and Brandt Snedeker – in the standings would secure the coveted playoff title by winning the Tour Championship on Sunday. But that quintet is all struggling with second-placed Tiger Woods plummeting down to one under after a disastrous 73 on Friday. “I&aposm only four shots back, so I&aposve still got a good chance going into the weekend,” McIlroy said. “First and foremost, I just have to try to think of my standing in this golf tournament, not really think about anything else. “If it comes down to it on Sunday where I need to really know what I have to do for the last few holes, then if I have a decision to make between protecting my lead in the FedExCup or trying to win the golf tournament, I think I know what I&aposm going to choose. “But we just have to play until we reach that point. At the minute, I&aposm just concentrating on trying to play as well as I can.”
Author: Omnisport