The “Quake at East Lake,” the seismic battle between No. 1 Rory McIlroy and No. 2 Tiger Woods, the showdown most fans anticipated — and many desired — has yet to take shape at The Tour Championship.
Through 36 holes the only waves felt by those in the galleries following the top two players in the world were those of shucks and awe. Neither really made a move Friday. McIlroy shot a pedestrian 68, while Woods, the first-round co-leader, went backward by following his 66 with a 73.
Neither is out of the picture. McIlroy stands at 3-under 137 and is tied for seventh, four shots behind leader Jim Furyk. Woods is at 1-under 139 and is tied for 12th, six shots out of first. If the leaderboard stays unchanged Sunday, McIlroy still would win the FedEx Cup and the $10 million prize.
“First and foremost I just have to try to think of my standing in this golf tournament, not really think about anything else,” McIlroy said. “If it comes down to it on Sunday, where I need to really know what I have to do for the last few holes, then of course I have a decision to make between protecting my lead in the FedEx Cup or trying to win the golf tournament. I think I know what I’m going to choose.”
McIlroy got off to a shaky start Friday, but made critical par saves on the first five holes to keep his game on the tracks. He got up-and-down for par on Nos. 1, 4 and 5.
A bogey at No. 14 broke his streak of seven consecutive pars, but he responded with an eagle at the uphill par-5 15th. He reached the 515-yard hole in two shots and made a 25-foot downhill putt for the eagle. It was the only eagle made there all day.
Woods played the course like he hadn’t seen it before. He made the turn at in 35, making a mess of the eighth hole when his drive and approach shot both found the primary rough and led to a double bogey. There were four more bogeys on the way to a back-nine 38, which produced a number of exasperated looks from Woods.
“I didn’t play very good today,” Woods said. “Didn’t hit it very good and definitely didn’t putt well. So it was a struggle all day.”
The 73, which required 32 putts, was the worst for Woods at East Lake since the FedEx Cup began. It’s been 28 rounds since he’s posted a score that high at the Tour Championship since it moved to Atlanta, that coming in with second-round 76 in 1998.
About the Author
