ATLANTA — Ryan Gerard hit it well enough for five relatively easy birdies Friday and dropped a surprise from just inside 80 feet for another, giving him a 5-under 65 and a share of the 36-hole lead with Viktor Hovland at the season-ending Tour Championship.
Hovland had one of five birdies on the peninsula-green 15th hole, a par 3 at only 155 yards but tucked to the left near a sharp slope that feeds off the putting surface. He had a 66 to join Gerard at 10-under 130 going into the weekend.
Right behind? Just about everybody.
That includes Scottie Scheffler, the world's No. 1 player who had a 67 and was two back. And it included Cameron Young, in last place after the first round and atop the leaderboard for much of the day after a 62. He also wound up two behind.
Collin Morikawa and Chris Gotterup each shot 67 and were one behind at 9-under 131.

#five #viktor

ATLANTA – Ryan Gerard has dialed in his distance control with his short irons this week at the Tour Championship and the proof is in the pudding. He shot his second straight 5-under 65 at East Lake Golf Club on Friday to share the 36-hole lead at the FedEx Cup finale with Viktor Hovland.
But his short irons aren't all that Gerard has figured out. The 27-year-old North Carolina Tarheel already reeled in his "white whale," making it to the field of 30 for the first time in his Tour career, and now he's seeking a captain's pick to play for Brandt Snedeker on Team USA at the Presidents Cup.
"It's hard not to think about it a little bit. I think very aware that a good week this week goes a long way to help my chances," he said. "Just going to go out there and play good golf, and Sneds is going to decide whatever he thinks is best for the team, and I hope that I can contribute."
In a previous conversation, he was even more candid: "I want to play in that tournament. I want to be part of the team. I want to play for my country. I want people to want me to be there."
And he very well may get the chance, as his expectations begin to catch up with his abilities. When he first was chasing a Tour card, those expectations, he admits, didn't always match with reality. "It took me a little while to figure out I didn't have it figured out and then it took me even longer to try and figure it out from there," he said. "I'd like to think I'm getting close to getting a little more consistent but I'm still learning."

#want

Tour Championship - round two
-10 R Gerard (US), V Hovland (Nor); -9 C Morikawa (US), C Gotterup (US); -8 S Scheffler (US), C Young (US)
Selected others: -7 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), J Rose (Eng), A Scott (Aus), L Aberg (Swe); R -6 Fox (NZ); -4 T Fleetwood (Eng), A Fitzpatrick (Eng), W Clark (US); -3 R McIlroy (NI); +3 R MacIntyre (Sco)
Full leaderboard
Norway's Viktor Hovland and American Ryan Gerard are tied for the lead at 10 under, heading into the weekend at the Tour Championship in Atlanta.

#hovland

Ryan Gerard and Viktor Hovland enter the weekend in Atlanta in prime shape to take home the biggest payday of the season — a $10 million check that awaits the FedExCup champion on Sunday in the winner's circle at East Lake Golf Club.
One has Tour Championship experience, the other has none.
Hovland hoisted the big trophy and cashed that eight-figure check just four years ago when he stood in the winner's circle and celebrated with uncorked bottles of champagne after routing Xander Schauffle on this same course. Gerard is one of six "newbies," players making their debut in Atlanta.
They each share part of the lead after 36 holes, going bogey-free on their respective back nines on Friday to get into the clubhouse at 10 under.
Let's look at how the prize money breaks down for the 2026 Tour Championship (note: this will be updated once play ends on Sunday).

#atlanta #circle

St Jude Championship - round four leaderboard
-17 S Scheffler (US); -9 Kim (Kor); -8 A Noren (Swe), S Burns (US); -7 W Clark (US), Im (Kor)
Selected others: -6 L Aberg (Swe), T Fleetwood (Eng); -5 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); -4 V Hovland (Nor), J Spieth (US); -3 H Hall (Eng); E J Rose; +3 S Lowry; +8 R McIlroy (NI)
Full leaderboard
Rory McIlroy says "he felt lost" as he toiled to a 66th-place finish - 25 strokes behind champion Scottie Scheffler - at the St Jude Championship.

#scheffler #noren #clark #aberg

Where to watch U.S. Amateur 2026: Full TV schedule, times, channels, live streams for USGA golf championship originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
It's time to watch the next generation of golf professionals get their start — the 2026 U.S. Amateur Championship returns to Philadelphia this week.
As one of the the oldest championships in the country, the U.S. Amateur is steeped in history and greatness. It now serves as a launching pad for amateur golfers, with a winners list including names like Bryson DeChambeau, Viktor Hovland and Matt Fitzpatrick.
Taking place at both Philadelphia Country Club and Merion Golf Club, 312 players will compete across seven days and two formats.
Currently, 47 of the top 50 in the World Amateur Golf rankings have entered the draw, including reigning champion Mason Howell, No. 1 Preston Shout, No. 3 Tyler Watts and more.

#sporting #championship #watch

The St. Jude Championship heads into its final round at TPC Southwind in Memphis, where the field is battling for a spot in the top 50 of the FedEx Cup standings to secure their place in the BMW Championship next week.
Scottie Scheffler shot 2-under 68 in 97-degree heat Saturday to reach 13 under and take a two-shot lead into the final round. It was a grind next to Friday's course record 61. He opened with three pars, bogeyed the par-3 fourth and let Viktor Hovland pull even before three birdies on the back nine pushed the lead back out. Sam Burns had a bogey-free 62 with a front nine 30, to reach 11-under. Sungjae Im matched him with a 67. Jake Knapp and Tommy Fleetwood are next at 8-under. Hovland's back nine came apart for a 72 that dropped him to 6-under.
Below is a look at the final round tee times in Memphis.
More: FedEx Cup playoffs winners, losers: Rory McIlroy near bottom at St. Jude Championship

#nine #jude

Friday quickly became the Scottie Scheffler show, where the world's top-ranked player went low for a 9-under 61 to tie the course record at TPC Southwind.
The third round promises to be a Scheffler chase, with the FedEx St. Jude Championship veering dangerously toward a runaway on Moving Day. Sungjae Im and Viktor Hovland sit T-2, three shots back of Scheffler at 8 under through 36 holes.
Only time will tell though how the tournament ends up shaking out. One thing is for certain: There is still plenty to play for as the top 50 players in FedExCup scoring qualify for next week's BMW Championship.
FedEx St. Jude Championship - Rd 3
Don't miss the third round of the FedEx St. Jude Championship at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tenn.

#championship #jude #Friday

Ludvig Aberg is one of Scottie Scheffler's closest challengers with 36 holes left to play at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
Scheffler was in scintillating form on Friday at the FedEx St. Jude as he fired a round of nine-under par 61.
Aberg's round of 65 was made to look rather ordinary by the 30-year-old world number one's brilliance.
Scottie Scheffler is 11-under par after two rounds of the FedEx St. Jude Championship, and he holds a three-stroke lead over Sungjae Im and Viktor Hovland, with Ludvig Aberg a further shot back.
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images

#scottie #championship #scheffler #Friday

World number one Scottie Scheffler matched the course record with a nine-under par 61 to grab a three-stroke lead after Friday's second round of the PGA St. Jude Championship.
The 30-year-old American sank 11 birdies against two bogeys to stand on 11-under 129 after 36 holes in the PGA FedEx Cup playoff opener at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee.
"I felt like I did a lot of stuff well," Scheffler said. "I gave myself a lot of looks, hit some nice iron shots and was able to make some birdies."
Four others have also fired 61s at the layout, the most recent being England's Justin Rose in 2023.
South Korean Im Sung-jae fired a 66 to stand second on 132 with Norway's Viktor Hovland. Sweden's Ludvig Aberg was another stroke adrift and Colombian Nico Echavarria, Americans Brian Harman and Jordan Spieth and England's Tommy Fleetwood, the reigning playoff champion, on 134.

#stroke #fired #World #jude

The year’s final major is upon us. The Open Championship (or British Open, depending on which side of the pond you favor) tees off on Thursday at Royal Birkdale. Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, local hero Tommy Fleetwood and the rest of the field will begin play starting at 1:35 a.m. Eastern Time. The final group will tee off at 11:21 a.m. Get the coffee ready and follow along.
Notable tee times (all times Eastern):
2:19 a.m.: Robert MacIntyre, Rickie Fowler, Alex Fitzpatrick
4:36 a.m.: Russell Henley, Justin Rose, Viktor Hovland
4:47 a.m.: Justin Thomas, Alex Noren, Jason Day

Genesis Scottish Open third round (finishers only)
-10 J Keefer (US); -9 R Neergaard-Petersen (Den); -8 M Armitage (Eng), M Meissner (US); -7 A Del Rey (Spa), T Fleetwood (Eng), T Hatton (Eng), SW Kim (Kor)
Selected others: -5 J Thomas (US), C Hill (Sco), JJ Spaun (US); -4 J Rahm (Spa); -3 V Hovland (Den)
Full leaderboard
Matt Fitzpatrick holds a share of the lead and out-of-sorts Rory McIlroy struggled in an unfinished third round at the Genesis Scottish Open where fog caused havoc.

Former White House attorney Ty Cobb warned Friday that President Trump's decision to fire the remaining Democratic members of an independent election administration commission this week is part of a "deliberate plan" to put his thumb on the scale of the upcoming midterm elections.
"You can't look at the termination of the Election ******* istance Commission (EAC) as anything other than another effort by one side to try to take over part of the referee role for the elections," Cobb said during an appearance on MS NOW.
Trump removed Democrats Benjamin Hovland and Thomas Hicks from the commission on Thursday, with the White House citing his authority to do so under the Supreme Court's recent decision in the recent Slaughter case.
The justices ruled in a 6-3 decision that the president can fire the heads of most independent agencies at will, overturning a nearly century-old precedent that allowed Congress to insulate those bodies from political interference.
"The President, and head of the Executive Branch, reserves the right to remove individuals that may not be totally aligned with the important task of securing America's elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted," a White House official said in a statement. "The Slaughter decision gives the President precedence to do so."

The Genesis Scottish Open heads to Day 2 at North Berwick. Rory McIlroy fired a 5-under 65 and sits in a five-way tie for the lead with Patrick Cantlay, Tom Kim, Rasmus Hojgaard and Bernd Wiesberger.
One shot behind them is a group that includes Brooks Koepka and Min Woo Lee, while big names like world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Matt Fitzpatrick, Tommy Fleetwood, Viktor Hovland and defending champion Chris Gotterup all finished the day in red numbers and remain well within striking distance after 18 holes.
For all the Friday, second-round live updates, leaderboard updates, highlights, scores and more, first, be sure to set your alarm and then second, keep refreshing this page.
See the second-round tee times and pairings and keep tabs on the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open leaderboard throughout the day Friday. Here's the top of the board before the start of the second round:
Pos.

YouTube star Brad Dalke says he has been thrilled by the level of support he has received on his DP World Tour debut.
Dalke, 28, was two shots off the lead heading into the third round of the BMW International Open but toiled to a three-over 75 on Saturday in Munich, leaving him seven strokes adrift of joint leaders Michael Hollick and Bernd Wiesberger, who sit at 13 under.
Despite his struggles the American - who played against the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa and Viktor Hovland during his college days and now has an army of fans for his online golf content - drew a considerable gallery and rewarded them with his second birdie of the day on the 18th hole.
"It was fun to birdie the last in front of the crowds. It's crazy in my mind knowing I have never played a DP World Tour event and I might have the biggest group [of fans] out there, the biggest following out there.
"Big shoutout to the fans. YouTube golf has been growing a lot, and it's shown with these crowds. I will try to finish strong."

SILVIS, Ill. — Viktor Hovland and Scottie Scheffler had to return to TPC River Highlands on Monday to finish their playoff at the Travelers Championship after heavy rain caused a weather delay Sunday afternoon.
The PGA Tour might run into the same problem again this week at the John Deere Classic, where brutally hot and humid conditions could cook up thunderstorms throughout the weekend in Silvis, Illinois. The first round got underway Thursday morning without a hitch, but the forecast for the rest of the tournament doesn't look too promising.
The first round of inclement weather could arrive Thursday afternoon, as the forecast calls for a 50 percent chance of scattered thunderstorms. Even if those storms don't materialize, players will be dealing with temperatures in the low 90s with a heat index north of 100 degrees.
Friday's forecast is similar to Thursday's: partly cloudy with a high in the upper 80s and a heat index nearing 100, plus a 55 percent chance of a strong thunderstorm carrying heavy rain that could cause flash flooding in some areas.
Saturday's third round seems to have the biggest chance of a suspension in play, with cloudy and very humid conditions. There's a 60 percent chance of thunderstorms all throughout the day, and some of those storms could be severe, with high winds and damaging hail to go along with heavy rain.

Viktor Hovland of Norway had good reason to jump into a group of countrymen on June 29 at the TPC River Highlands and do the "Viking Row" that has become a familiar sight wherever Norsemen have gathered in America — for the World Cup, Major League Baseball, or in this case, a PGA Tour signature event.
Hovland celebrated with his fans behind the 18th green after sinking a birdie putt of 7 feet to beat Scottie Scheffler in a quick playoff for the Travelers Championship, the first Monday finish on the PGA Tour since Rory McIlroy won the 2025 Players Championship over J.J. Spaun.
It was Hovland's eighth PGA Tour **** le and moved him 36 spots up the FedEx Cup points list to 20th. Hovland is now well within the top 30 and if he stays there he has a chance to win the FedEx Cup for a second time in his career.
Scheffler held onto first place on the points list with his fourth runner-up finish of the season. The FedEx Cup concept is designed to reward consistency, and while Scheffler hasn't won since Jan. 25 at The American Express, the world's No. 1 player has been a model of consistency: 14 of 14 cuts, with all 14 among the top 25, and nine top-10 finishes, all fourth or higher.
The only big movement among the top 10 was Rory McIlroy, who did not play at River Highlands, dropping from eighth to 13th.

Scottie Scheffler has suggested that losing the Travelers Championship in a Monday playoff is slightly easier to accept due to how hard he knows Viktor Hovland works on his game.
Hovland emerged victorious at TPC River Highlands as the two men returned on Monday to finish off their duel at the final signature event of the season on the PGA Tour.
The Norwegian piled the pressure on by holing his birdie putt first as the pair played the 18th hole once again. Nevertheless, few would have imagined that Scheffler would miss his putt from three feet to extend the playoff.
It has the potential to be a significant moment in Hovland’s career, with the 28-year-old constantly searching for the magic formula that will allow him to realise his full potential.
Remarkably, it was only Hovland’s second PGA Tour win since lifting the FedEx Cup in 2023.

Travelers Championship final round
-21 S Scheffler (US), V Hovland (Nor); -20 C Morikawa (US); -19 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); -18 W Clark (US), A Bhatia (US)
Selected others: -17 A Fitzpatrick (Eng); -16 R MacIntyre (Sco); -14 T Fleetwood (Eng); -13 S Lowry (Ire); -12 J Rose (Eng); -11 A Rai (Eng)
Full leaderboard
Norway's 'viking row' made an appearance on the golf course this weekend as Viktor Hovland played his way into a Monday play-off with Scottie Scheffler at the Travelers Championship.

Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland face a Monday play-off after finishing level in the rain-delayed final round of the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.
Hovland, who birdied the first two holes after a weather delay to draw level, narrowly missed a birdie putt on the last to clinch victory.
World No 1 Scheffler, chasing his first PGA Tour win since The American Express in Southern California in January, rolled in an eight-and-a-half foot putt for par to ensure they remained level at 21-under-par. The pair will be back for the playoff from 9am local time (2pm BST) on Monday.
Scheffler had shot a 10-under-par 60 to lead after the second round and sat one stroke behind overnight leader Hovland on the final day.
The Norwegian lost his advantage with a bogey at the first and was two shots adrift of the American after a birdie at the 13th when play was suspended at 5.57pm local time after heavy rain and lightning.

Sometimes, 72 holes just aren’t enough.
After four days of world-class golf and a lengthy weather delay Sunday afternoon, the Travelers Championship will be decided Monday morning in a sudden-death playoff between World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and World No. 8 Viktor Hovland at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Connecticut.
The format couldn’t be simpler.
Scheffler and Hovland will return to the 18th tee at 9 a.m. ET and play the finishing hole. If they tie the hole, they’ll do it again. And again. And again. The first player to win a hole walks away with the Travelers Championship trophy.
Event: Travelers Championship Playoff

CROMWELL – While leaders Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland failed to separate from the pack in the final round of the Travelers Championship on Sunday, World No. 9 Collin Morikawa came charging from nine shots back.
He had just gotten into the clubhouse at 20-under and devoured an ice cream sandwich when the round was delayed for 80 minutes due to dangerous weather conditions.
“I was selfishly hoping they would keep playing, but you want everyone to be safe and it’s a waiting game now,” he admitted, before the leaders finished tied at 21-under to set up a playoff on Monday morning.
Morikawa, a two-time major champion and U.S. Olympian, found himself atop the leaderboard with Scheffler at 20-under after he hit a bunker shot to 8-feet, 11-inches on the 18th green and made birdie to finish his round – best of the day – at 9-under-par 61.
Travelers Championship set for Monday playoff between Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland

Viktor Hovland began the final round of the Travelers Championship with a one-stroke lead over Scottie Scheffler.
Hovland has been really struggling with his game over the past two years, while Scheffler has experienced completely contrasting fortunes.
The 30-year-old from Dallas has won 14 times since the start of the 2024 season, while the Norwegian has just one victory to his name during that same period.
So, as Scottie Scheffler and Viktor Hovland entered the final round of the Travelers Championship, it was the world number one who was the red-hot favorite, despite the fact that he trailed by one shot.
However, neither player produced anywhere near their best golf on Sunday at TPC River Highlands, as they allowed numerous other players back into the tournament.

CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) — Scottie Scheffler made an 8-foot par putt on the 18th hole Sunday and pumped his fist with more emotion than he showed all day, just for the right to return Monday at the rain-delayed Travelers Championship to face a sudden-death playoff against Viktor Hovland.
The final round was stopped for 90 minutes as storms moved over the TPC River Highland, and officials deemed there was not enough daylight for them to play another hole.
Scheffler and Hovland each had birdie chances at the end. Scheffler rammed his 30-foot putt 8 feet by the hole. Hovland’s 25-foot attempt missed by inches and he tapped in for a 69. Scheffler made his third big par putt for a 68 to match Hovland at 21-under 259.
That was one shot ahead of Collin Morikawa, who closed with a 61 and was briefly tied for the lead, though it never looked as though it would be enough.
CHASKA, Minn. (AP) — Haeran Ryu ended Nelly Korda's hopes for a Grand Slam when she recovered from a shaky start and won the KPMG Women's PGA Championship for her first major, beating Ina Yoon by two shots at Hazeltine.

Play resumed at 7:20 p.m. ET in the Travelers Championship, following an 83-minute weather suspension.
Officials halted play at 5:57 p.m., with dangerous weather in the Cromwell, Connecticut, area.
Scottie Scheffler holds the lead at 21 under par through 13 holes at TPC River Highlands. Collin Morikawa is in the clubhouse at 20 under, following a closing 61.
Viktor Hovland, in the final pairing with Scheffler, is at 19 under, tied with Wyndham Clark (through 14).
Rain began to increase around 5:20 p.m., and turned in a downpour at times. Officials continued play as TPC River Highlands was holding up to the conditions. Once electricity arrived in the area, however, the horn sounded and players were taken off the course.

Scottie Scheffler led for most of the day on Saturday at the Traveler’s Championship, but was overtaken by Viktor Hovland on the final hole when he missed a putt to card his second bogey of the back nine. The world no. 1 sits in solo second after shooting 3-under 67 at TPC River Highlands.
Hovland shot 6-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over Scheffler on the 18th hole and goes into championship Sunday in the top spot, a place he’s worked hard to get back.
Patrick Cantlay jumped into the mix during the third round and finished T-3 with Akshay Bhatia. The duo sits five strokes back from Hovland entering the final round.
Golf Channel coverage begins at 2 p.m. ET. Here's a look at tee times and pairings for the final round in Cromwell, Connecticut.
Time

Jon Rahm is set to play his first non-major PGA Tour event since joining LIV Golf.
Rahm and Legion XIII teammate Tyrrell Hatton were announced as two of commitments for the Genesis Scottish Open, to be held in two weeks at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland. Rahm and Hatton are eligible to compete in the co-sanctioned event because each are DP World Tour members, with Rahm reaching a conditional release agreement with the European circuit back in May.
Rahm’s last non-major PGA Tour event was the 2023 Tour Championship while Hatton hasn’t played such a tournament since the 2024 Sony Open, after which he moved to LIV, following Rahm, who signed in December 2023.
Joining Rahm and Hatton in the Scottish field are Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Aberg, Shane Lowry, Viktor Hovland, Tommy Fleetwood and Robert MacIntyre, among others. The official field will be released the Friday before tournament week.
Rahm, a two-time winner on LIV this year, and Hatton, who won LIV’s most recent event earlier this month at Valderrama, won’t tee it up on LIV again until July 23-26 at LIV Golf U.K., as LIV’s event in New Orleans, which was supposed to be held this week, was canceled.

Bud Cauley has lauded the reception he received on the Rink Hole at TPC Toronto after securing his first ever PGA Tour victory at the RBC Canadian Open this past week.
Another fantastic trip to Canada is in the books for the PGA Tour. Cauley ended up producing a stunning performance on the back nine on Sunday to take charge of the tournament.
However, a number of big names were also in the mix during the final round. Matt Fitzpatrick finished second at TPC Toronto, while the likes of Viktor Hovland, Sam Burns, and Tommy Fleetwood all had opportunities to win.
TPC Toronto was an excellent test. Good shots were rewarded, while there were plenty of penalties for missing the fairway or the green.
But of course, the most notable spot on the course was the par three 14th. Nicknamed the Rink Hole, it was the spot for some of the rowdiest fans in attendance to position themselves.