East Lake proved too soft and scorable leading into weekend play, and the PGA’s Top 30 are all in it to win. With the starting strokes gimmick scrapped this year, everyone teed off at even par, turning the TOUR Championship into a clean 72 hole sprint for a 10 million dollar paycheck.
What’s Up After 36 Holes
With the Top 30 head to head, East Lake lit up like a stage on fire this week. No more starting strokes, just a raw sprint to the finish and classic golf drama. Russell Henley blitzed Round 1 with a 61, closing birdie birdie birdie with an eagle on six, and Scottie Scheffler trailed by two after shooting 63.
On Friday, Tommy Fleetwood answered with a smooth 63 to pull alongside Henley at 13 under, while Scheffler slid to 8 under but never too far to turn it on over the weekend. Cameron Young posted the round of the day with a 62 to reach 11 under.
Behind them, Patrick Cantlay and Robert MacIntyre are parked at 10 under. Some of the usual suspects follow at 7 under, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Shane Lowry, Sam Burns, Ben Griffin, Chris Gotterup, and Akshay Bhatia, keeping the chase spicy. This is a who’s who fight for FedExCup pride.
Quick Hits on the Top Five
- Tommy Fleetwood (13 under | 64 63): Ball striking on rails, bogey light 63 Friday, and still chasing that first PGA TOUR win. This would be a heck of a stage for it.
- Russell Henley (13 under | 61 66): The opener was surgical, Friday’s 66 kept him joint top. Accuracy plus a steady putter is serving him well.
- Cameron Young (11 under | 67 62): Low round of the day. The putter is lively and the throttle is open. He is the momentum guy.
- Patrick Cantlay (10 under | 64 66): Quietly efficient and trending. Closed Friday with enough juice to stick inside the final groups.
- Robert MacIntyre (10 under | 64 66): Bounced back from BMW heartbreak and has not blinked. The lefty is shaping shots on command and may be due.
Checking the Odds
Books tightened up after the second round. Here is a snapshot from reputable boards. Numbers move, but these reflect the current range.
- Tommy Fleetwood +210 to +220
- Russell Henley +240 to +260
- Scottie Scheffler +500
- Cameron Young +750 to +800
- Patrick Cantlay +1100 to +1200
- Robert MacIntyre +1400 to +2200
- Rory McIlroy +2500
How I Would Play It, Safe Bets
- Scheffler at +500 is finally a fair price for the world number one chasing from five back. If the driver behaves, he can erase that in a hurry. Scottie at +500 is a number the books do not want to pay out.
- Cameron Young at +750 or +800 is the momentum buy, striping it, putting well, and only two off the lead.
- MacIntyre at +1400 is the upside dart and the longer shot in this pack. His form is sharp again and he is only three back.
Looking for a Longshot
Try Sungjae Im at +75000. He has East Lake history, finishing seventh at 18 under last year and tied for second at 20 under in 2022. At five under this is still anyone’s trophy.
Weekend Storyline Watch
- Greens and Soft Conditions: Preferred lies and receptive greens kept scores low. If the course continues to play like it has, expect a birdie race Sunday.
- Format Matters: With everyone starting at even this year, there is no net par weirdness, just pure stroke play. That keeps the door open for a Saturday missile from the seven under pack.
Bottom Line
With Fleetwood and Henley sharing the lead at 13 under and Scheffler lurking at +500 in the live market, East Lake is set up for a proper two day sprint. If Young’s 62 is a preview, he is the heat check. If Scottie’s driver finds the center, he can bulldoze the gap. And if Tommy Fleetwood, always the bridesmaid and never the bride, keeps rolling that stress free 63 energy, Sunday might finally be his moment.
Pour a cold one, put your feet up, and take an afternoon off. The golfers this late in the season are fine tuned, no excuses, just a $40 million purse and a $10 million winner’s check on the line.
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