American Dustin Johnson remains in control of the Tour Championship, taking a one-shot lead after the second round.
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The Austrian made a sensational start to the European Tour tournament for a second year in a row to lead by two strokes from Italy’s Renato Paratore, on a day when more than three hours of play were lost to fog early in the morning at Bad Griesbach.
Favourite Dustin Johnson shares the lead at four under par alongside Hideki Matsuyama and Kevin Chappell.
If Johnson wins on Sunday, he will also claim the FedExCup and the $10 million prize awarded to the victor of the season-long points race.
Rory McIlroy admitted swing troubles hindered his second round at the Tour Championship, but is targeting a weekend push to capture his third win of the season. He has three runner-up finishes this season in which someone simply outplayed him Jason Day, the worlds No. 1 player, at Bay Hill and The Players Championship; and Kisner at the RSM Classic at Sea Island, where Love is the tournament host.
The World Number One, who also withdrew from the BMW Championship with the same injury two weeks ago, had complained of feeling pain several times during an opening round 67 which had him one shot off the lead starting Friday.
McIlroy made a poor start with four bogeys and one birdie in the first eight holes, but the four-time major victor responded with birdies on the 10th and 12th to remain in contention for a third win of the season.
If nothing else, Johnson all but eliminated anyone not among the top five trying to win the FedEx Cup.
“My putting and short game saved me today”, Matsuyama said.
Even if Johnson were to finish second outright, it would be enough to end McIlroy’s FedEx Cup chances.
“I feel if I play really solid golf here – and it doesn’t have to be ideal golf – I can shoot 8 under on this golf course”.
The Australian has been fighting back issues all summer.
Anyone lower in the standings must win and count on those top players finishing down the leaderboard – something that was looking less and less likely in Johnson s case. Unfortunately, they’re not going to be sympathetic to me.
There was frustration for McIlroy when he missed birdie putts at the 16th and 17th, but he made a fine par putt at the last and signed for a 68. He started his day by holing a 95-foot birdie putt.
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Joint leader Matsuyama, meanwhile, made a nice start on the more hard front nine and picked up two more shots on the inward half.
