Norway’s Viktor Hovland and American Ryan Gerard share the lead at the Tour Championship after the second round at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. Both players finished at 10-under par Friday, setting the stage for a closely contested final day in the last tournament of the FedEx Cup playoffs, where the winner will claim the $10 million top prize.

Gerard, competing in his first Tour Championship and holding a single PGA Tour victory to date, carded a five-under 65 that included six birdies and a remarkable 78-foot putt on the seventh green. His strong performance gave him the clubhouse lead before Hovland, playing in the final pairing, responded with a 66 highlighted by a birdie on the 18th hole to catch Gerard at the top.

Americans Collin Morikawa and Chris Gotterup are just one stroke behind the leaders, while world number one Scottie Scheffler and third-ranked Cameron Young trail by two shots. Young, who shot a tournament-best 62, climbed from the bottom of the leaderboard to a tie for fifth, highlighting his impressive recovery after a difficult start to the week.

Gerard expressed confidence in handling the pressure of leading heading into the weekend, stating he preferred playing with the lead to chasing from behind. Meanwhile, Hovland said he felt frustrated despite his solid position, acknowledging inconsistency in his game compared to when he won the tournament in 2023. “It almost pisses me off more because I know that, ‘oh, I used to be able to do that,’ and now it feels a lot more difficult,” he commented, noting his swing does not feel quite right despite avoiding major mistakes.

Min Woo Lee, who began Friday with a two-shot advantage, experienced a challenging round. The Australian posted a 73, including a triple bogey on the fifth hole and a bogey on eight after hitting his tee shot into the water. Lee’s struggles came after a standout 62 on Thursday, which he played alone following the withdrawal of partner JJ Spaun due to a shoulder injury.

Playing alone again on Friday, Cameron Young found rhythm and momentum, making seven birdies in the first 11 holes and finishing with an eagle, leading to his 62. Young described the solo format as beneficial, allowing him to maintain a steady pace without waiting on other players.

Scheffler had a mixed day, recovering well from back-to-back bogeys to get close to the lead before bogeying the 17th hole as conditions worsened. Winds intensified late in the round, with Scheffler describing them as “bad gusts” that made shot-making more difficult.

Rory McIlroy, aiming for a strong finish, faced difficulties including a double bogey characterized by two failed chip shots on the uphill third green. He managed two late birdies to finish with a 69, placing him tied for 23rd at three-under par, seven strokes off the leaders.

With only one round remaining, the tournament remains tightly contested as players vie for the FedEx Cup and the significant prize at stake.