PGA Tour Championship Round 2 Predictions: Scheffler Bang In Contention Ahead Of Friday’s Action

Sitting three shots off the lead, Scottie Scheffler remains the golf betting favourite to win the Tour Championship.

Min Woo Lee holds a two-stroke advantage over the field after 18 holes thanks to a round of 62 on Thursday. Min Woo has the second-shortest odds to win the event behind Scheffler.

Chasing Pack

A pair of late birdies kept Scheffler within striking distance, but it’s Viktor Hovland, Chris Gotterup, and Collin Morikawa who are tied for second on six under par.

Tipped before the tournament, Ludvig Åberg finished with three birdies to sit five under par. The Swede wasn’t at his best off the tee, but his iron play was dialled in. All of the 29 golfers to complete the round shot even par or better as the world’s best took full advantage of preferred lies being in effect for the opening round.

Despite some woes on and around the greens, Rory McIlroy fought back from a slow start to shoot 68.

Accuracy Off the Tee

We know hitting fairways is important at East Lake. Scheffler reiterated how impactful it is after his round on Thursday.

Golfers that regularly hit fairways and put themselves in good positions are worth targeting in the betting markets ahead of Friday’s second round.

Approach play let down Xander Schauffele. Russell Henley was uncharacteristically poor with putter in hand. McIlroy excelled off the tee but couldn’t get his short game right.

Best Bets

• Gary Woodland to win – each way (40/1)
• Rory McIlroy top five finish (3/1)
• Russell Henley top 10 finish (11/2)

Thursday’s leader in strokes gained off the tee, Gary Woodland is four shots back. He birdied four of the first six holes and eagled the 18th to sit in a six-man group of four under par. Play around the greens has been a problem this year, but it’s not out the question he gets hot with his putter and surges in the next couple of days.

It’s rare you’ll get 3/1 on McIlroy to finish top five when he’s three shots off fifth with three rounds to play. The Masters champion, who excelled in the BMW Championship last week, was second in strokes gained off the tee. There’s no way his short game can be as bad on Friday.

Yes, Henley had a rough day on Thursday. He still shot even par, though, and he’s just four shots behind the group of players that are tied for ninth. Our pre-tournament confidence in the American has not evaporated because of a bad putting day. He was solid off the tee, which gives us confidence that he can fight back.

*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*