Tommy Fleetwood is once again in familiar territory—near the top of the leaderboard heading into the weekend. The Englishman carded a 7-under 63 on Friday, featuring eight birdies, to share the lead at the TOUR Championship with Russell Henley at 13-under 127. As always, the question looms: Is this finally Fleetwood’s moment?
A fan favorite known for his composure in the face of repeated near-misses, Fleetwood is still chasing his elusive first PGA TOUR win. He already boasts an impressive resume on the DP World Tour but continues to seek a breakthrough on American soil. And while the story is familiar, the stakes have never been higher—$10 million and the prestigious “Calamity Jane” replica putter trophy await the winner.
“All I can do is keep learning,” Fleetwood said. “I actually feel like I’ve played very, very well when I’ve led tournaments and been in contention. It’s not like I’ve crashed and burned—I just haven’t quite finished things off. The people who win the most are the ones who are in contention the most. That’s where I want to be.”
He added with a laugh that the most pressing question lately hasn’t been about winning, but whether he shaved—after a noticeable beard trim mishap.
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“It beats the alternative question of when I will win,” he joked.
Low Scores, High Drama at East Lake
Henley matched Fleetwood at the top with a second straight strong finish—capping his round with birdies on 17 and 18 for a 66. He started just as hot, holing out from a bunker for birdie on his opening hole. Soft conditions at East Lake, preferred lies, and receptive greens have made low scoring possible, though scattered rain has disrupted play at times.
To avoid further delays, tee times were moved up on Friday—and the leaderboard is tightening fast under the new format. Unlike previous years, players now start the tournament at even par, making for a more open and competitive finale.
Young Surging, Cantlay Clutch, Scheffler Hanging On
Cameron Young made a strong case for a Ryder Cup nod with a dazzling 8-under 62. His round included a smart recovery and par save on 17, when he chose to pitch out from a bad lie in the fairway. He’s just two shots off the pace at 11-under.
Patrick Cantlay, the 2021 FedExCup champion, appeared to be falling out of contention until he caught fire on the back nine. He closed with a birdie-birdie-eagle finish—including a 7-wood from 249 yards to 6 feet on 18—to shoot a 66 and sit three shots back alongside Robert MacIntyre.
Scottie Scheffler continued his under-par streak with a 69, extending his run to 19 consecutive rounds below par. But the world No. 1 admitted it wasn’t his sharpest outing.
“Just one of those days where it seemed like I wasn’t getting rewarded for the stuff that I was doing,” he said. “Just a touch off all day.” He’s five back at 8-under.
No Room for Error
The average score at East Lake through two rounds is 67, a testament to how well the top 30 players on the PGA TOUR have adjusted to the course and conditions.
“When conditions are soft and there’s been rain, I think that leads to a bunched leaderboard,” Cantlay said. “These 30 guys have played well all year, so not a surprise to see them playing well here this week.”
That’s especially true for Fleetwood, who has been heartbreakingly close this season. At the Travelers Championship, he led by one on the final hole before three-putting from 50 feet and losing to a Keegan Bradley birdie. Just two weeks ago in Memphis, he led by two with three holes to play before a costly chip and missed up-and-down knocked him one shot out of a playoff.
With 13 players within six shots of the lead at 7-under or better, it’s shaping up to be a shootout over the weekend.
“I know this weekend scoring is obviously going to be very good,” Fleetwood said. “The course actually isn’t easy—you’ve got to play well. I just need to keep committing to my golf shots. Play well. Stay in the moment.”
And maybe, just maybe, write a new ending to a story that golf fans have heard so many times before.
