MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Tommy Fleetwood surged to a four-shot lead at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, firing a 6-under 64 on Friday to position himself for a run at his first PGA Tour title.
Fleetwood, who has already secured his spot in the Tour Championship finale, finished his second round at 13-under 127. While much of the field is focused on finishing inside the top 50 of the FedEx Cup standings to advance, Fleetwood’s sole aim is a long-awaited victory.
“It hasn’t happened for me yet out on the PGA Tour, but I would much rather be up there and not quite get it done than not there at all,” Fleetwood said. “And who knows? Maybe this weekend is the weekend.”
For the second consecutive day, Fleetwood closed a stretch of holes with a flurry of birdies. After making three in a row early in his round, he caught fire on the back nine, sinking birdie putts on holes 13 through 16. His only blemish was a bogey on the 18th.
Collin Morikawa (65) and Akshay Bhatia (69) sit in a tie for second at 9-under. Justin Rose was also at 9-under through 16 holes when storms rolled into TPC Southwind, suspending play until Saturday morning.
While Fleetwood enjoys a comfortable lead, the drama intensifies for those on the bubble to advance to next week’s BMW Championship. A top-50 finish not only keeps postseason hopes alive but also guarantees entry into all eight of the $20 million signature events for next season.
Kurt Kitayama made the biggest move Friday, shooting a 7-under 63 to climb to No. 52 in the projected standings. Two weeks ago, Kitayama was at No. 110 before his win at the 3M Open. Bud Cauley, who entered the week at No. 53, also improved his chances with a 69.
Conversely, Jordan Spieth carded a 70, leaving him 12 shots off the lead and in danger of missing the top 50 for a second straight year.
FedEx Cup leader Scottie Scheffler remains in contention six shots back after a 66, despite a frustrating back nine that included three bogeys.
Fleetwood, a seven-time winner on the European tour, now faces another weekend with a PGA Tour victory within reach. After a heartbreaking runner-up finish at the Travelers Championship in June, he has another opportunity to finally break through.
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