Viktor Hovland and Ryan Gerard are tied for the lead at the Tour Championship after two rounds of play. Hovland opened with a 64 and followed with a 66, while Gerard carded a bogey followed by six birdies and a second straight 65. Both players are at 10 under par, sharing the TOUR Championship lead into the weekend.
The tournament is being held in Atlanta, Georgia, according to athlonsports.com. Hovland has been working on his swing and says it still does not feel right even though his driving has improved. He said that the difference in his driving may come down to just a few degrees of adjustment.
Hovland had two bogeys on the front nine but recovered with strong back nine play. His drive on the 14th hole and another on the 17th helped him gain confidence during the round. Hovland’s putting has been a key factor in his performance this week.
He ranked 64th in Strokes Gained: Putting before the tournament but has improved significantly. Ryan Gerard also found success on the greens and at the driving range before the event. Gerard spent time practicing partial swings to improve his control over distance.
He said that the familiarity of East Lake helped him feel more comfortable on the course. Gerard’s ability to manage shots and control the ball has helped him gain ground in the tournament. Collin Morikawa and Chris Gotterup are one shot behind, each with a 67.
Scottie Scheffler is two shots back after shooting a 67, according to a report from The Associated Press. Cameron Young moved up from last place after a 62 in the second round. Young said he was surprised to be within two shots of the lead by the end of the day.
Scottie Scheffler had a slow start but turned things around with five birdies in six holes. The tournament is being played on a course that has been relatively soft due to weather conditions. Only one player, Robert MacIntyre, remains over par after the second round.
MacIntyre finished with a 76 and is 13 shots behind. Hovland has been in this position before, having led or co-led five times in his career. He has won twice in those previous opportunities, including at the 2023 Tour Championship.
A win this weekend would put him among the elite with Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods as multiple FedEx Cup winners. Gerard is seeking his second PGA Tour victory in his 79th career start. He won the 2025 Barracuda Championship and said he is aware that a strong performance at East Lake could improve his chances of being selected for the U.S. Presidents Cup team.
The 2026 Tour Championship continues on Saturday with the third round, golf.com reported. Hovland said he hopes his current form continues into the weekend. He noted that it is frustrating to have a good feeling but not be able to sustain it from week to week.
The weekend promises to be competitive as the field remains close together. With a strong performance, either player could claim both the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup.
IMAGE: Viktor Hovland at the 2019 Korn Ferry Tour Finals. Taken at the OSU Scarlett course.. Photo: LostVoyage / Wikimedia, taken 2019-08-15, CC BY-SA 4.0