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Emergency 9: TOUR Championship, Round 2
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September 21, 2018
By Mike Glasscott , PGATOUR.COM
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Highlights
Billy Horschel drains 36-footer for birdie at TOUR Championship
Here are nine tidbits from the second round of the TOUR Championship gamers can use tomorrow, this weekend or down the road. East Lake Golf Club just outside Atlanta plays 7,362 yards to par-70.
Pain or Gain
These were the top-10 selected golfers in the PGA TOUR Fantasy One & Done presented by SERVPRO:
Rank Player Position % Ownership 1 Bryson DeChambeau T27 11.15 2 Justin Thomas T4 9.51 3 Brooks Koepka 30th 8.21 4 Keegan Bradley T27 8.08 5 Xander Schauffele T10 7.11 6 Dustin Johnson T15 5.68 7 Billy Horschel T4 5.16 8 Justin Rose T1 4.69 9 Rory McIlroy 3rd 4.63 10 Tiger Woods T1 4.37 Leaders
World No. 1 Justin Rose is embracing the challenge of having the target on his back. Sitting one back after Round 1 he was the first to post 7-under 133 after signing for 67. He's leading the field in Strokes-Gained: Tee-to-Green and has pegged the most GIR (30 of 36). ... Ok, time to get serious as Tiger Woods is tied after 36 holes. Or is it? After birdies on Nos. 12, 14 and 15 saw him take the lead alone, he needed six to get down on the par-4 16th. He only has made two other bogeys as he leads the field in scrambling.
People's Choice
A good night's sleep didn't help FedExCup Playoffs leader Bryson DeChambeau as he backed up his 71 with 75 more in Round 2. Gamers who were hoping to stumble upon "free money" by using him in every format this week aren't too thrilled currently. Even if he shoots 64 tomorrow he'll need probably one or two better in the final round to scare the top 10. I'm not holding my breath for that result.
Rounds of the Day
Billy Horschel circled seven birdies, including three on his last four holes, to post the round of the day (65) with Patrick Cantlay. After posting his first over-par round (71) in Round 1, the 2014 FedExCup Playoffs champion bounced back nicely with his career-best effort. ... Just like last year, Patrick Cantlay posted an over-par score in Round 1 and backed it up with a low one in Round 2. Last year it was 74-66 and this year he's signed for 71-65 as he circled six birdies against just one bogey. He'll be looking to improve on his even-par weekend last year that resulted in T20. If he keeps painting GIR (28 of 36) he'll have an excellent chance.
Wrist Shot?
Justin Thomas dug in and closed with two birdies in his last four holes to flip a 71 to a 69. Nice. His wrist was taped up again but it's obviously not pushing him out of the tournament. This is proper grinding that people like ME need in the final tournament of the season. He's currently second in Strokes-Gained: Tee-to-Green.
Spanish Stares
Jon Rahm found East Lake to his liking last year as he posted all four rounds at 70 or better and took home the bounty for T7. After opening 67-67 last year he's close to that pace after 68-68 this year (T4). Out in 30, he announced that he was going to be a factor this week as he shared the lead. Sadly for his investors he opened the back nine with two bogeys and a double in his first six holes before righting the ship with birdie on the final hole. He's just three back with that 38 closing nine.
Hi, Hideki
Like Woods, for the second event in a row Hideki Matsuyama is finding form on Friday again. With the only blemish-free round of the week, his 66 moved him from T25 to T10 and is only five back. How he's gotten back into the tournament is interesting. He's 26th in Strokes-Gained: Off-the-Tee but is first in Strokes-Gained: Approach-the-Green. Let's see if that combo can last!
Ryder Cup Check
Brooks Koepka posted the worst round of the tournament, 78, and is dead last. ... Joining DeChambeau on 146 and T27 is "Captain America" Patrick Reed after 72-74. Reed has never had much success at this layout so I wouldn't be tremendously concerned moving forward. ... Phil Mickelson is only one shot better after 73-72 and has taken 72 putts. Gulp.
Study Hall
Round 1 played under par at 69.3 with 20 of 30 rounds under par. Round 2 checked in at 70.367 as the course dried out and became more difficult. There were 16 rounds at par-or-better. ... 65 is the lowest round of the week. ... There weren't any eagles made in Round 2. ... Not even playing with buddy Mickelson could snap Keegan Bradley back into form as he matched his first round 73 in Round 2.
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