English golfer Tommy Fleetwood seizes share of lead at Tour Championship’s halfway mark
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Tommy Fleetwood of England tees the 18th hole during the second round of the Tour Championship.
PHOTO: EPA
ATLANTA – If Tommy Fleetwood is going to win his first PGA Tour event, this would be a good week to do it.
Like FedExCup championship good. Like US$10 million (S$12.8 million) winner’s share good. Like sweet relief after two recent disappointing close calls good.
The Englishman seized a share of the second-round lead on Aug 22 at the FedExCup play-off finale Tour Championship at 13-under 127 at East Lake Golf Club. He is tied with first-round leader Russell Henley. Cameron Young is third at 129.
“I actually feel like I’ve played very, very well when I have led the tournaments and been in contention. It’s just, I might have not got things right at the end. It’s just that I’ve not quite finished things off,” Fleetwood said.
“But 100 per cent, the people that win the most are the guys that are in contention the most, and then they keep winning, of course. That’s where I want to be. I keep going. I love the buzz when I am in contention, and yeah, I’m just excited for the opportunity again.”
Fleetwood’s seven-under 63 was tied for the second-lowest round of the day with Shane Lowry and Chris Gotterup.
The 34-year-old has seven top-10 finishes in 2025 and has come close to the elusive win with several near misses, especially of late.
He entered the Tour Championship fifth in the points standings, the highest-ranked player in the 30-player field without a win. In the past two weeks, he has finished tied for fourth and tied for third in the play-off events – the St Jude Championship and the BMW Championship.
Young carded the low round of the day with a 62 to get within two shots of the leaders. His late charge featured six birdies in eight holes from Nos. 11 to 18 for a back-nine 29.
Henley started two strokes up on the field after a first-round 61. He fired a 66 and tied Fleetwood with a birdie at No. 18.
“I feel like I hit a lot of shots today that were really good shots that maybe didn’t end up quite close enough... But still feel like I putted it well, hit my lines really well, and just hit a bunch of fairways,” he said.
Robert MacIntyre (66) of Scotland and Patrick Cantlay (66) are tied for fourth at 130.
World No. 1 and defending champion Scottie Scheffler, playing in the final pairing with Henley, had an up-and-down day. He shot a 69 and is five strokes off the lead at 132 in solo sixth position.
“I felt like I did some good things,” Scheffler said. “I felt like I could have done things a little better. Overall, I didn’t really feel like I did too poorly. Just didn’t get a lot out of it.” REUTERS
