Tour Championship 2019: Brooks Koepka takes lead on tough scoring day at East Lake

Thomas Lott

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Tour Championship 2019: Brooks Koepka takes lead on tough scoring day at East Lake image

Scoring was very difficult on Friday at East Lake at the FedExCup's Tour Championship, but it wasn't too bad for the No. 1 player in the world.

Brooks Koepka was one of just five players to shoot 3 under or better on the day, and he used that to move into the solo lead after two rounds at 13 under for the tournament.

Due to the Tour Championship's new scoring system, Koepka started the tournament at 7 under due to being third in the FedExCup standings.

Koepka finished his round with a birdie at 18 to move one shot clear of Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy who are tied in second at 12 under.

Thomas, who was first in the standings coming into the week, has struggled to find a rhythm through the first two rounds and has seen his two-shot lead coming into the week disappear through 36 holes.

His bogey at the 17th dropped him out of the lead on his own but he was able to go into the clubhouse tied with McIlroy and Koepka. However, the World No. 1's birdie at 18 was enough to get him out in front for the tournament.

McIlroy has been one of the faster risers on the week as he followed up a 4-under 66 in Round 1 with a 3-under 67 in his second. His save at the 18th out of the trees showed just how well he is playing even when he does hit bad shots.

While Koepka, McIlroy and Thomas were the men in the lead at the end of the day, Chez Reavie was the story. The 37-year-old shot the best round of the day at 6-under 64 to move to 6 under for the tournament seven back of the leaders.

He may not be able to catch those men out in front, but he has the shot of the tournament with his fifth ace on tour at the par-3 ninth.

Elsewhere on the day, Xander Schauffele sits on his own in fourth at 11 under, Paul Casey is fifth at 7 under and Patrick Cantlay is in sixth at 6 under.

Thomas Lott