After nearly missing the FedEx Cup playoffs altogether, Lucas Glover is making the most of his opportunity.
Glover’s bogey-free, 6-under-par 64 on Friday pushed him into the lead at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, the first leg of the three-week playoffs, in Memphis, Tenn.
Glover is 10-under 130 through two rounds, one shot better than first-round leader Jordan Spieth, who had a 68 Friday.
The 43-year-old Glover entered last week’s regular-season finale, the Wyndham Championship, ranked No. 112 in the FedEx Cup points standings. His victory Sunday catapulted him to No. 49, punching his ticket to TPC Southwind, where only the top 70 players in the standings qualified.
Glover would leap to No. 3 if the current results were to hold.
Playing the back nine first on Friday, Glover’s 32 1/2-foot eagle putt at the par-5 16th hole gave his round a boost. He made three of his four birdies on the front nine.
Five players are tied for third at 8 under: Taylor Moore (66 on Friday), South Koreans Sungjae Im (65) and Tom Kim (68), Englishman Tommy Fleetwood (66) and Argentine Emiliano Grillo (67).
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland and Scottie Scheffler, who finished one-two at last year’s Tour Championship, have each opened 67-66 to get to 7-under par. Xander Schauffele (6 under), Max Homa (6 under) and Collin Morikawa (5 under) are among the other notable players lurking behind.
There is no 36-hole cut at the St. Jude for the first time this year. That helps the likes of Spaniard Jon Rahm, who improved on Thursday’s 73 with a 67 Friday to get to even par.
–Field Level Media