ATLANTA – Veteran Jim Furyk, hunting his first PGA Tour victory in two years, took advantage of a sizzling start to grab a one-shot lead in Friday's second round of the elite Tour Championship. While tournament favorite Rory McIlroy carded a two-under-par 68 to stay on track for FedExCup playoff honors and the mind-boggling bonus of $10 million, Furyk birdied seven of the first 10 holes on the way to a best-of-the week 64. On a steamy day at East Lake Golf Club, American Furyk scorched the front nine in six-under 29 with a stunning display of pinpoint approach shots before finding the going much tougher after the turn. He offset birdies at the 10th, 15th and 17th with bogeys at the 13th, 16th and par-three last to post a seven-under total of 133 in the PGA Tour's fourth and final playoff event. “To be able to write ‘three' on your card nine times in the first 11 holes was a lot of fun,” a smiling Furyk, 42, told reporters. Britain's Justin Rose, co-leader overnight with twice winner Tiger Woods in the elite 30-man field after opening with a 66, was alone in second place after sinking a five-foot birdie putt at the last for a 68. Masters champion Bubba Watson birdied two of the last three holes for a 66 to finish at five-under, level with fellow American Bo Van Pelt (68) and one ahead of Dustin Johnson (67) and Matt Kuchar (69), also of the United States. Northern Irishman McIlroy, who is seeking a fifth PGA Tour victory this year, and his fourth in just five starts, was a further stroke back at three-under while Woods battled to a 73 for a one-under total. Thompson remains on top Defending champion Lexi Thompson shot a 3-under 69 Friday to take a one-stroke lead into the weekend at the Navistar LPGA Classic at Prattville, Alabama. The 17-year-old Thompson had a 12-under 132 total on the links-style Senator course at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail's Capitol Hill complex. She matched the tournament record Thursday with a career-best 63. Last year, Thompson became the youngest champion in LPGA Tour history at age 16, winning by five strokes. Fifteen-year-old amateur Lydia Ko broke the record last month in the Canadian Women's Open. Mindy Kim and Mi Jung Hur were a stroke back. They played in the same group and each shot 65. Kim and Hur also missed late chances to tie Thompson. Hur missed a 3-foot birdie putt on the par-5 eighth, their 17th hole of the day, and Kim missed a 6-footer on the par-4 ninth. Dori Carter was two strokes back at 10-under along with Hee Young Park and Lizette Salas. Carter had a 67, and Park and Salas shot 69. Top-ranked Yani Tseng was 3-under after a 70. Michelle Wie missed the cut by a stroke, shooting a 73 to finish at even par. — Agencies
