Horschel moves two clear
Billy Horschel carded his second 66 of the week to open up a two-shot advantage after the second round of the PGA Tour Championship.
Following his victory at the BMW Championship last week, the American moved up to second place on the FedEx Cup standings knowing that a victory at East Lake would hand him the richest prize in the sport.
FedEx Cup leader Chris Kirk and fourth place Rory McIlroy – two other players who would be crowned FedEx Cup champion should they win this week – is on six-under after rounds of 68 and 65 respectively, alongside Jason Day (67).
Four other players are two further shots behind at four-under.
They are 2010 FedEx Cup winner Jim Furyk (69), Ryan Palmer (67) , Kevin Na (66) and Cameron Tringale (68).
Horschel birdied two of his first three holes but fell off the pace a touch with bogeys at five and seven.
Two more birdies followed at 11 and 14 before sinking a tough seven-footer at the 18th to establish himself at the top of the leaderboard.
“That’s the way it’s been lately,” said Horschel admitted after the round.
“I’ve been playing one side better than the other. I probably should have shot a little lower on the front side today … But I’ll take those two nines again for two more days and see where that gets me.”
Should Horschel win this week, he will be only the second player to win the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship in consecutive weeks after Camilo Villegas in 2008.
In ninth place on three-under is Rickey Fowler after a second round (68), while Justin Rose (66) and Russell Henley (68) rounds out the top 10 on two-under.
Friday’s round teed off earlier than schedule amidst the threat of rain later in the day.
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